RutuChakra– Celebrating and Embracing Womanhood

THIS CAMPAIGN AIMS TO RAISE FUNDS TO PROVIDE 1,00,000 SANITARY NAPKINS TO 500 UNDERPRIVILEGED GIRLS AND WOMEN FOR A YEAR.

LET'S HELP WOMEN & GIRLS LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE WITH DIGNITY

Menstrual Hygiene is vital to the health, well-being, dignity, and empowerment of women and girls. However, the issue of menstrual hygiene has been neglected in our society. Today in India, over 88% of the menstruating women do not have access to sanitary napkins and many more do not have any information regarding the same. In the absence of these napkins, many resort to using leaves, ash, bark, etc. which could potentially lead to several health problems.

Menstruation is a natural biological process, yet, it remains a sensitive topic in our society. Cultural perceptions and myths have etched their way into our society over the years and have impacted women in a negative way. This can often lead to misinformation and the promotion of dangerous menstrual hygiene practices.

Through RutuChakra, I intend to make a positive change: to make an effort towards embedding measures within society to promote menstrual hygiene. This is entirely a youth driven initiative.

ABOUT ME & THE CAMPAIGN                 

Hi! I am Sanjana Dixit, an 11th grader from National Public School HSR. I have started RutuChakra to provide sanitary napkins to the underprivileged girls and conduct health and hygiene workshops for them. I am a sports enthusiast, grade 7 trinity keyboard and an avid reader. But apart from all of that, I am also an ardent social worker: volunteering and helping at various organisations since I was seven. I have previously conducted summer workshops for reading and writing for various organisations, book and stationery collection drives. I have been teaching two underprivileged girls mathematics for the past year.

I have already had a fundraiser in January 2018 and conducted a workshop in an organisation for ~50 girls. I have provided a year’s supply of sanitary napkins. I am now scaling this initiative in order to reach out and help a larger section. For this I have collaborated with several organisations. To begin with, I will be supporting ThayiMane, Samarthanam, Sandesh and Vidya Organisation to name a few.  I have personally worked with these organisations.

HELP ME RAISE FUNDS TO PROVIDE SANITARY NAPKINS TO 20 UNDERPRIVILEGED GIRLS AND WOMEN FOR A YEAR.(COSTS 1000 INR PER ANNUM PER GIRL). AS A GROUP WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO RAISE FUNDS TO IMPACT 500 GIRLS/WOMEN.

By supporting my cause, you are helping me provide the necessary menstrual products and education on the same (through workshops) to girls who otherwise would not be able to afford it. You would be giving them a chance to practise safe menstruation and understand the changes taking place in their body; A chance to speak about this in a society where there is a social stigma and this is regarded as a sensitive topic.

Helping one person might not change the world but it can change the world for that one person. So I urge you to give your support. A simple act of kindness can have a profound impact on someone else's life and with your help I can truly make a difference here. After all, no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted

OUR PARTNER

ROTARY BANGALORE

WE have partnered with the very reputed Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar for the sanitary napkins to be given to women across various NGO's.  Rotary Bangalore is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who come together to make positive, lasting changes in communities at home and abroad. For over 110 years, Rotary Bangalore along with its members have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, they are committed to always working to better our world.

TAX BENEFIT

HOW DO WE CHOOSE WHICH ORGANISATIONS TO WORK WITH?

Till now while choosing an organisation, I looked at 2 main points :

1. I should’ve worked with the organisation or spent time in the organisation before:For me, this step is really important. As I would have visit the organisation and worked with them, I will have a good understanding about them. This also helps maintain our credibility. So it is a personal and thoughtful decision we make as to whom to work with.

2.  They should really require sanitary napkins or menstrual products in general. I want to make sure that I help out the people who really require menstrual products .etc. It doesn’t matter if these organisations are located in extreme parts of Bangalore as long as I am able to help someone and make a positive change in their life.

In future, I am also planning to extend this initiative to girls/women in slums.

NOTE: However, in organisations that are relatively self sufficient in this regard, I am always open to conducting workshops because, I believe, knowledge should be given to everyone.

ORGANISATIONS THROUGH WHOM THE SANITARY NAPKINS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED

We have selected organisations that work with underprivileged girls / women and provide them with various facilities such as education, skill based training and residential homes. Some of these organisations are also supporting PWDs ( People with Disabilities ).

Some of these organisations also have government schools under them. We would be supporting these girls as well. 

Listed below are the organisations that we will support:

Mitra Jyothi - http://www.mitrajyothi.org 
Vidya Organisation - http://www.mitrajyothi.org 
Sandesh - https://www.sandeshindia.org 
Samarthanam - http://www.samarthanam.org 
ThayiMane - http://www.thayimane.org

Couple of government schools

HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING IN THIS FIELD BEFORE?

Yes! Before taking forward this crowdfunding campaign, I had already initiated a fundraiser and conducted a workshop in ThayiMane (Children’s Home). This took place in the month of January, 2018.

The Fundraiser was largely spread across my school, apartment and social circles and I had received an AMAZING response. Through the funds generated, we were able to supply sanitary napkins for 1 year for ~50 girls.

 The workshop touched upon :

• General Health and Hygiene.
• Safe Menstruation.
• Addressed questions / myths / concerns relating to this topic.
• Safe Disposal of Sanitary Napkins

 It was conducted by Ms. Sunita Shekokar (Gynaecologist)

The girls were also given Health and Hygiene Kits consisting of items of basic personal Hygiene.

NEWS PAPER ARTICLES