Training 130 women youth health leaders in Gujarat

Geeta, a young school-going adolescent from village Satun was horrified at school one day when her clothes got soiled despite wearing old rags/cloth as menstrual protection. Embarrassed with the situation she refused to attend school thereafter during her menstrual cycle.

In due course she happened to attend a meeting on menstrual health and hygiene conducted by AWAG in her village. Amongst a number of aspects that she learnt from the trainer, she was also introduced to the use of sanitary napkins. She gave it a try and is now relieved of the embarrassment of soiled clothes and attends school regularly.   

This may not have been possible without the support of your valued contribution through GlobalGiving.

We appreciate your kind gesture and look forwrd to your continuedsupport for sustainable progress.

Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year.

Best Wishes,

Tasneem Sara and AWAG Team 

VOICES FROM THE FIELD...

Hello Friends,

Greetings from Ahmedabad Women's Action Group (AWAG )!

We are glad to share the recent update of our project 'Training 130 women youth health leaders in Gujarat'. Your continued support through Global Giving is helping us spread awareness on Women's Menstrual Health and Sanitation amongst rural women in Patan, Gujarat. 

Lack of awareness and affordability meant that sand, ash, rags or dirty cloth were used instead of sanitary pads, leading to blistering, soreness, infections and long-term health issues. This problem is being solved with our health and hygiene awareness project, training young local women leaders to raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene and generate income through selling low-cost sanitary pads locally.

Over the months of September and October 2017, we have managed to spread awareness of menstrual hygiene among 200 women from across five villages.

Voices from the Field

• "I am Leelaben from Village Kanigam in Patan block of Patan District, Gujarat. Initially I was embarrassed to participate in this meeting, but after attending the meeting my knowledge and confidence has increased. Earlier, we used cloth rags/pieces for menstrual protection and have nether worn panties nor have we used sanitary napkins. Our daughters use sanitary napkins. Now we too have realized the importance of using of sanitary napkins. We experience a number of problems such as irregular menstruation, prolonged menstruation, infertility and body heaviness before menstruation. The meeting helped us to cope with these situations. We will put in efforts to break barriers and will start interacting with our daughters in this matter so as to create a mutual bonding.  Such meetings are very enlightening and must be conducted regularly. We will ensure that more and more women attend these meetings."        

• "I am Pravinaben from Village Borsan in Patan block of Patan District, Gujarat. I am currently employed as an ASHA Worker in my village. The team of AWAG conducted a meeting on Women's Menstrual Health Awareness and Sanitation in my village. It is here that I realized that there was a lack of personal hygiene and knowledge about the use of sanitary napkins and underwear among a large number of women.  The knowledge along with the sanitary napkins that are made available at a subsidized rate by AWAG, prompted me to interact and convince the village women to adopt hygienic practices and to start using sanitary napkins for menstrual protection.   This effort along with the knowledge-support provided by AWAG has resulted in a positive change in terms of bringing about awareness and embracing hygienic measures through use of sanitary napkins, among the village women."

 We will keep you updated on the progress of the project.

Thank You!