A girl in a rural school in India can miss up to 40 days of schooling every year because she doesn't have sanitary pads to use. The idea of a sanitary napkin is alien to most women and girls. Many girls end up using paper and and rags to handle menstruation. Please help us mitigate this situation and help girls stay in school and concentrate on their studies.
A girl who cannot afford or does not use sanitary pads is at a huge disadvantage vis-a-vis others in school. She will miss as many schooling days as her days of menstruation. Because of this, she lags behind in her school work and has a difficult time catching up. This affects her academic performance and self-esteem. In many unfortunate cases, girls find it more convenient to drop out of school than lag in studies.
With your support and help from volunteers, we will provide 500 girls aged 10-18 a year's supply of sanitary pads. Girls who have sanitary hygiene are more confident in school and more likely to graduate high school. For every year of education a girl receives, her future income increases. Educated girl children better understand their rights, advocate for themselves and their families, and are less likely to fall victim to exploitation.
Girls who stay longer in school have better prospects in their careers. For many girls in India, education is the only way out of the vicious cycle of poverty. Our girls do not drop out of school because they want to, but because of external factors. Lack of sanitary pads is one of the biggest reasons to do so. With this project, we strive to keep the girls in school by giving them supplies and pads and they, in turn, will help their communities and families.
