For the months of January and February, AWAG undertook health and sanitation awareness workshops in the following villages in Radhanpur District (number of attendees displayed):
Chalwada - 35
Bandhwad - 41
Agichala - 37
Pedachpura - 35
Nani Pipli - 52
Vadnagar and Vadnagar school - 42
Sultanpura - 75
Shahpur - 35
Vijaynagar - 36
Premnagar - 25
Bismillahganj - 22
In total in these two months, 435 adolescent girls attended the workshops in the above mentioned villages.
Key objectives of the workshop
In the workshops, the team members of AWAG gave a brief orientation about the organisation followed by session on awareness of domestic violence and primary activities that AWAG is involved in. Thereafter, the main focus of the workshops was on awareness of menstrual health and hygiene. The team explained the side effects of not maintaining appropriate hygiene during menstruation, emphasising the importance of using appropriate underwear and sanitary towels. AWAG staff highlighted ‘myths’ surrounding menstruation, educating women about the topic and against the blind faith that many local women have become accustomed to.
Comments from the workshops:
AWAG's conclusions:
Links:
For the months of November and December, AWAG undertook health and sanitation awareness workshops in the following 12 villages of Radhanpur district, Gujarat, India. A total of 466 adolescent girls attended the workshop in the below mentioned villages -
Name of the village Number of girls attended per village
1) Cherganj 29
2) Dharvadi 54
3) Bhadiya 43
4) Kamalpur 46
5) Badalpura 41
6) Nanapura 21
7) Jetalpura 28
8) Dev 31
9) Palali 30
10) Bilot 45
11) Gotarka 48
12) Nalanda 50
Key objectives of the workshop
In the workshops, the team members of AWAG gave a brief orientation about the organisation followed by awareness about domestic violence and primary activities that AWAG is involved into. Thereafter, the main focus of the workshops were on awareness about menstrual health and hygiene. The team explained about the side effects of not maintaining appropriate hygiene during menstruation, convincing the tribal girls to use panties and sanitary towels. AWAG staff spoke about myths surrounding menstruation, helping them ventilate their worries about diseases associated with it and tried to bring them out from the blind faith and traditions that women in Indian villages are accustomed to, since many years in relation to menstrual health.
Comments from girls who attended the workshops:
Disha, a supposed 9th grader was one of participant in the workshop. She voiced her concern about not being able to go to school since menstruation caused her severe pain, itchiness and ruined her good clothes. She added that her teachers were male and could not understand this kind of issue and therefore dropped out of school . AWAG staff questioned about what she uses as sanitary pad and learnt that she normally used nylon pads stiched from her mothers old clothes. Trainers advocated her to use sanitary pads but affordability was an issue for her. Staff convinced her to atleast use cotton pads till she could afford a low cost disposable pad. Further, AWAG staff spoke to the principle of the school and urged him to readmit disha to school. The school principle was impressed with the kind of workshops we were doing and asked us to conduct one at his school as well. We will be conducting a workshop for his school soon. As you finish reading our first report, you would be happy to know that disha has started to go to school again and is in 9th grade now attending her classes regularly!
Links: