Did you know that only 18% of women and girls in India have access to sanitary hygiene? 

There is evidence to show that ignoring good menstrual hygiene is not only damaging for girls but also adversely affecting the educational, businesses and economic sectors of the country. Indian Development Foundation (IDF), an NGO based in Mumbai aims to contribute to the all-round development of the children in schools across Mumbai and India.

IDF aims to reach 100,000 students in India by 2020 with the provision of sanitary pads, undergarments, hygiene products and awareness generation on personal hygiene. IDF aims to address this issue by educating young girls about menstrual health and well-being by spreading awareness and by making hygiene products like sanitary napkins more accessible to them. Girls from poor homes going to the school are trained and advised to use and properly dispose-off these sanitary napkins

By informing them about the strong connection between hygiene and health, and educate them on best practices to adopt using hygiene products like sanitary napkins, we shall be able to reduce a lot of hygiene and health-related problems among the women population.

The cost of supplying a years supply of low-cost sanitary napkins, 4 sets of undergarments etc to one girl is just INR 500. The kit is shown below.

The pic above shows a kit that contains 32 sanitary pads, 4 sets of undergarments, 1 towel and 2 soaps. The total pads given will be 128 nos ( Pack of 8 pads *16 nos). Girls will also be taught about hygiene and best practices. The sanitary pads are given to them in two lots as the entire set will be too big for them to store at home.

Read on to discover how I am doing this campaign in partnership with IDF. My aim is to raise INR 15000 or more to provide sanitary napkins to 30 girls studying at schools from poor homes and to underprivileged young girls in govt schools in the city of Mumbai. 

HELP ME RAISE INR 15000 TO PROVIDE A YEARS SUPPLY OF SANITARY NAPKINS, UNDERGARMENTS ETC TO 30 GIRLS.

COLLAGE - PICTURE OF STUDENTS BEING GIVEN PADS

ABOUT ME & THIS CAMPAIGN:

Greetings to all, I am Aadya Narain from Sophia College, Mumbai. When you're kind to others, it not only changes you but it also changes the world, we rise by lifting others.

Despite the growing dialogue on the topic of menstruation, in many societies, talking about it still makes people turn a shade of red. Add to the mix- lack of education, proper infrastructure and information about their own body’s development and it makes the onset of menstruation a traumatic experience for countless young girls and women. Unhygienic conditions during menstruation can also lead to infections sometimes which not only causes financial issues but can also lead to life-threatening situations. Seeing the multiple challenges women and adolescent girls face, it is apparent that creating awareness regarding menstrual hygiene is not only about sanitation but is also an important step towards protecting the dignity and overall life opportunities of women and girls.

The Dignity Project is organized to raise funds for girls living in those areas where maintaining hygiene is considered as a luxury and not as a necessity and providing them with a sanitary napkin. The cost of supplying low-cost sanitary napkins to one woman with a year’s supply is just INR 500. Help me raise a minimum of INR 20000 and together we can transform the lives of 40 girls.

As people from families that are economically sound, it is our sacred duty to ensure that the ones from a less privileged background, who are without the provision of these basic requirements, receive it. 

Please join me in changing the lives of school-going girls and women. Whether it’s your daughter, sister, wife or mother lets all help them embrace and enjoy their womanhood.

HOW WILL THE MONEY BE USED?

For this campaign, we have partnered with an NGO who will execute this project. It’s called Indian Development Foundation (IDF) and is headquartered at Goregaon(W) Mumbai. The monies collected will be given to them once the campaign ends. Since they are an NGO, any donation will be eligible for an 80G tax receipt. The money would be utilized to purchase and provide the girls with the sanitary napkins & hygiene kits.

Every donation counts, let’s all do this not for us, but for them. For those girls who need it and for our nation which we wish to see flourish because they are the future of India. 

TAX BENEFITS

All funding for this campaign has tax benefits. Receipts will be issued by IDF which is a registered NGO. Indian citizens can avail of 80G tax benefits. Foreign funding is accepted too.

MAP SHOWING LOCATION WHERE WILL THE FUNDS BE USED & PARTNER LOCATION.

ABOUT IDF

IDF focusses on a wide variety of initiatives as an NGO. The project which I am supporting is part of the Dignity Project-Health and Sanitation campaign that aims to empower adolescent girls.

IDF overarching aim is to contribute to the all round development of the children in its Bal Gurukuls and schools associated with Bal Gurukuls across the country in cities, towns and far fledged places making the reach easier. To tackle the problem of menstrual hygiene management in girls IDF’s Dignity Project-Health Sanitation campaign addresses the following concerns in India.

ABOUT DIGNITY PROJECT-HEALTH SANITATION CAMPAIGN

It supports underprivileged girls studying at BMC schools in Mumbai by providing them with Sanitary Napkins.

All it takes is Rs.500/- to support one girl's personal hygiene for the whole year, predominantly underprivileged girls aged 12 and above.

SCHOOLS WHERE IDF PLANS TO DISTRIBUTE KITS