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How Sarika is creating a positive dialogue about Menstruation among adolescent girls

WHY A POSITIVE DIALOGUE ABOUT MENSTRUATION IS IMPORTANT

India is home to around 120 million adolescent girls — that’s roughly 10% of the population. A girl menstruates on an average for five days a month, 12 months a year, and the cycle carries on till she reaches menopause in 40-50 years. Periods are normal and healthy, yet many girls across rural and urban India struggle to manage this monthly occurrence.
Source – www.youthkiawaaz.com
Moreover ( In India )-

  • 10% of girls think that Menstruation is a disease. (UKAID)
  • 66% of girls do not know anything about periods before their first period (Unicef MHM)
  • 87% of girls & women do not know the importance of menstruation or the biological process behind it. (Unicef MHM)
  • 14% of girls suffer from menstrual infection of some kind. (Wateraid)

Sarika, a woman from Kota, deeply felt a need to create awareness about Menstruation, especially in Rural areas of India. And she started a personal social initiative called “Safe N’ Happy Periods”, a self funded initiative with the support of friends & family members.

WHAT IS SAFE N’ HAPPY PERIODS & WHAT IT AIMS TO ACHIEVE

As the motto of Safe N’ Happy Periods says, “Let’s talk about it”, the initiative is about starting a dialogue about Periods and creating adequate and positive menstrual awareness. Sarika has been doing this through her workshops and open sessions. She answers the curious questions, and demonstrates the yoga practices that could help girls to ease down during their periods.
SNHP ( SAFE N’ HAPPY PERIODS ) believe that if a girl is well informed about Menstrual hygiene at the right age, and if we manage to remove misconceptions from her mind as well the minds of all those around her, the girl will not only be able to handle the emotional trauma and a stigma of shamefulness as she begins her journey as a young woman, but she will also face the hormonal changes in her body with awareness and confidence. A better menstrual awareness would lead to a better future.
Spreading awareness and educating girls, their families and society can significantly reduce the burden on young girls. Adults allowing them to focus on living healthier lives and accomplishing their goals would be a bliss.

IMPACT OF SAFE N’ HAPPY PERIODS SO FAR

Safe N’ Happy Periods creating awareness about Menstruation

Using the strength of interactive & persuasive communication, Safe N’ Happy Periods is working towards changing deep rooted beliefs and attitude of shame, shyness and discrimination towards menstruation. So far –

  1. 17,500 adolescent girls and women were addressed during workshops
  2. More than 1500 women were touched through Social Media, Awareness literature & awareness drives in train, public places, etc.

“Periods should not be looked upon as vile and infernal. But as a phenomenon that empowers womanhood”.

HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

The best way to contribute to SNHP is to spread a word about them and by sharing  the initiative on social media platforms. Telling your friends about them through physical dialogue would be great.
“PADDING THE PERKY PERIODS”

Also, you can start by donating Rs. 40 which will provide monthly supply of Sanitary Pads to a needy girl. You can Paytm them on +91, 8425063301

GET IN TOUCH WITH SNHP

You can visit Safe N’ Happy Periods Website www.safenhappyperiods.org to read more about their work. You can connect to them via their Facebook Page or mail them at connect@safenhappyperiods.org or Call on +91, 8425063301
 

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