No Shame to Bleed (NSTB)

The journey of Sarathi continues to grow with each new batch of young menstrual health activists. This quarter marked an important transition for the No Shame to Bleed project, as we celebrated the completion of Batch VIII’s year-long journey while welcoming Batch IX and supporting them as they began their own journey of learning, advocacy, and community engagement. 

After a year of learning, facilitating, advocating, and engaging with adolescents, the 10 Sarathis from Batch VIII came together for their graduation ceremony on 29 July 2026 at Visible Impact. The ceremony was not only a celebration of what they had accomplished, but also an opportunity to reflect on how much they had grown throughout their journey. Over the course of their engagement, Batch VIII conducted 45 menstrual health management workshops, reaching 1,544 adolescents across 41 schools, two orphanages, and two disability centers. Their work created spaces where adolescents could openly discuss puberty, menstruation, menstrual hygiene, myths and misconceptions, and other issues that are often surrounded by silence and discomfort. The batch also produced 61 blogs, allowing them to continue conversations around menstrual health and share their perspectives beyond the workshops. 

Beyond the numbers and activities, graduation was a moment of personal reflection. The Sarathis revisited letters they had written to themselves at the beginning of their journey, watched videos capturing their experiences, and shared their reflections with one another. These moments highlighted how the Sarathi experience was not only about delivering sessions, but also about building confidence, communication skills, leadership, and a stronger understanding of menstrual health. As they completed their year with Sarathi, the Batch VIII activists also shared recommendations for strengthening the program in the future. They highlighted the importance of including more practical content on menstrual cups, ensuring boys are meaningfully included, and strengthening coordination with schools. 

As Batch VIII completed their journey, the next group of young activists was already preparing to take the work forward. Following an open selection process that received 79 applications from young people across Nepal, 10 young people were selected for Sarathi Batch IX, beginning their 12-month engagement from July 2026 to July 2027. 

The new batch participated in a three-day Training of Trainers on Menstrual Health Management from 15–17 July 2026. The training provided them with the knowledge and skills they need to facilitate menstrual health sessions with adolescents and engage in advocacy and activism. The training covered a range of topics including puberty, reproductive anatomy and physiology, menstruation, menstrual discomforts, risky behaviors, menstrual products, myths and taboos, and the role of boys and men in creating supportive menstrual health environments. The Sarathis also explored menstrual health-friendly schools, social marketing, disability-inclusive menstrual health education, and gender-inclusive approaches to menstruation. 

The training went beyond presentations and lectures. Through group discussions, games, videos, myth-busting activities, brainstorming, experience sharing, and mock sessions, the new Sarathis had opportunities to practice what they learned. The disability-focused session also helped them understand how menstrual health education can be adapted for people with different disabilities, while discussions on gender-inclusive menstruation emphasized the importance of using inclusive language and creating spaces where everyone can participate. The training concluded with each Sarathi developing an action plan and practicing mock sessions. Feedback from the practice sessions helped them identify areas for improvement and build greater confidence in public speaking and facilitation. 

With their training complete, Batch IX has now started putting their learning into practice. In the initial phase of their engagement, the new Sarathis have conducted three sessions, reaching 138 adolescents so far. 

Although this is only the beginning of their year-long journey, these first sessions mark an important step as the new batch moves from learning to action. Each session gives them an opportunity to strengthen their facilitation skills, interact directly with adolescents, and create open and safe spaces for conversations around menstruation and menstrual health. There is still a full year ahead for Batch IX, with more workshops and learning opportunities to come. As they continue conducting sessions in the coming months, they will have opportunities to reach more adolescents and carry forward the conversations that previous Sarathi batches have helped initiate. 

The transition from Batch VIII to Batch IX reminds us that the Sarathi journey is not simply about one group of young people completing their term. It is about creating a continuing cycle of learning, leadership, and action. As one batch graduates, other steps forward, carrying the knowledge and experience of the previous generation while bringing their own ideas and energy to work. 

We are grateful to our supporters for making it possible for young people to learn, lead, and contribute to creating a future where menstruation can be discussed openly and without shame. With Batch IX now taking its first steps, we look forward to seeing where their journey takes them. 

• NSTB_June_to_oct_activity_photos.pdf (PDF)