By Tara Rana | Communications & Fundraising Officer
Dear Maitri Friends,
Lately, we have been focusing on adolescent girls of our Afterschool Programme and their needs. Menstrual Hygiene is an issue mostly affecting the social, psychological and physical well-being of adolescent girls. Though, a natural biological process, it is surrounded with stigmas and social taboos. This becomes a part of their social conditioning which she accepts as very normal, and passes it on to next generation and to next, resulting in a series of ongoing regressive mind-sets.
On 26th-27th May, Maitri conducted interactive sessions with adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 19 years. About 3o girls joined to learn about menstruation and its various aspects like hygiene practices, girl’s views around these taboos, social pressures, discrimination etc.
Maitri’s initiative around Menstrual Hygiene Day aimed:
Thankfully, most of the school-going girls are aware enough to understand the importance of healthy practices such as using pads, changing it at short intervals, disposing it properly etc. However, those girls who have left schools and due to inability to afford the cost of sanitary napkins use clothes. The poor sanitation facility is one reason they are unable to maintain proper hygiene practices. Since the need of having proper sanitation facility came up during this session, we are in dialouge with the local goverment bodies for possible construction of toilets in the area.
Adolescent girls are our future assets, who can be empowered towards reducing any forms of gender based violence. This two-day activity to mark the Menstrual Hygiene Day gave the adolescent girls an opportunity to share their thoughts, identify with each other and think about better ways to handle the menstruation cycle. Moreover, they have learnt that this is a natural biological process and nothing they should be shamed about.
We are so happy to inform you that as an organization ranked Super Star on Global Giving, we are eligible for 50% matching funds on this Bonus Day. All donations made from 9:00:01 am EDT to 11:59:59 pm EDT on the 15th June or until the $110,000 in matching funds runs out, will get us addional bonus of 50% matching funds.
Thank you for supporting adolescents and children from our Afterschool Programme. Becuase of you, they have access to quality education, knowledge and life skills. Thank you for making such a huge difference in their lives. Hopefully, these children will grow up learning to pay it forward.
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