Talking about periods is a social taboo in most parts of Bangladesh. As a result, many girls don’t understand what’s happening to their bodies when they get their first period, let alone how to manage it safely. Using unhygienic materials like rags and old bedsheets, instead of proper sanitary products, leads to frequent illness, embarrassment and skipping school. This project will enable a team of health professionals to go into under-resourced areas of Bangladesh and educate girls about periods in way that reduces the stigma and shame they currently face. Teenagers will learn to respect and be proud of their changing bodies. Girls will learn how to confidently manage their periods in a hygienic way, and each girl will receive a pack of reusable, washable sanitary pads. From now on, every girl that attends a workshop will no longer have to fear her period, but will be equipped to stay clean, healthy and attend school every day of the month. This project is for 10 workshops in Bangaldesh.
The expected project outcomes are as follows:
Our project leader Sharmin is on the ground in Bangladesh coordinating these workshops, educating people in her community and distributing sanitary products. We have worked with Sharmin for over 4 years, funding several of her period-poverty reduction programmes and have full trust in her organisation's capacity to undertake this project. Sharmin will provide photo, video and anecdotal evidence of project activities and implementation, as well as receipts and budget breakdown on expenditure. When Just Peoples is able to visit Bangladesh again after Covid restrictions ease, we'll be able to visit some of the girls and women who have received the education, and be part of workshops. We'll provide regular updates to donors on the impact they have made, as part of our commitment to all Just Peoples supporters.
Thank you for encouraging us to sharpen our foundation’s focus on gender outcomes. We naturally gravitate to philanthropy for women and children’s programs but the gender focus wasn’t as sharp as it could be.
Also known as Australian Women Donors Network (ABN: 28 141 197 471), Australians Investing in Women is a registered charity endorsed by the Australian Tax Office as a deductible gift recipient (DGR1) under a special listing, all donations over $2 are tax deductible.