CCF’s objectives in creating a Menstrual Hygiene Program:
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To create employment for marginalized women by teaching them how to sew reusable cotton menstrual pad kits with CCF purchasing and distributing them,
- To identify and train women who are leaders in their communities so they have the skills needed to educate other women and their communities about menstruation. These women can help distribute reusable menstrual pad kits, evaluate their effectiveness and open up the dialogue and conversation about menstruation in their local communities,
- To provide shorter ½ day (3 hour) trainings on MHM (menstrual hygiene) to women and girls who receive the reusable menstrual pad kits and to have them evaluate their performance using a questionnaire as a way to understand if this is a viable menstrual hygiene tool for women in both urban and rural areas.
Creating Employment: The Women of Padhma Pads
One part of CCF’s mission is to promote access to skills development so that marginalized individuals in Nepal can create economically viable communities. CCF also strives to address and resolve issues that are barriers to the education of girls. With these goals in mind, in March of 2018 CCF provided funds to set up a sewing group for making menstrual pad kits for low-income women in Nepal. That workshop has been opened and is operational and has produced 400 kits that CCF purchased in May of 2018 for distribution to groups that CCF is directly working with.
To date 150 of the kits have been donated to ACP for upcoming distribution to girls involved in the Power of 5 program and ACP producers. 250 kits still are being held by Padhma Pads for distribution once leaders have been trained in MHM (menstrual hygiene management).
Roshani- 20 years is from a Muslim community. She got married when she was very young and a few months ago, her husband moved to Kathmandu to find work but couldn’t find work and for unknown reasons he disappeared. She has a 1-year-old baby and has moved back to her family’s home and is looking for work to take care of her baby.
Nilam Sunwar- 25 years is from Okaldhunga. She said she comes from a very poor region in Nepal where they still practice Chauppadi. Growing up she’s seen how poverty and gender inequality has created disadvantages for women in the community. She doesn’t like the fact that women are treated unfairly and unequally. Her dream is to be a social activist to fight for gender-related issues in her community. Four years ago, she moved to Kathmandu to find better opportunities.
Rajni Pariyar- 21 years, is Rebika’s sister. She left her studies after 12 grade. Her hobby is dancing and her favorite singer is Anju Pant, a famous Nepali Gospel artist. Both the sisters are from the Dalit community.
Rebika Pariyar- Is 25 years old, she lives with a family of 8. Her family is from Surintar, Gorkha but currently live in Nayabazaar. She is Christian and enjoys singing the gospel in her church on Saturday. She would like to own a cosmetic or a tailoring shop some day
Identify & Train Leaders: Three Day Training
CCF is so proud of our partners in Nepal! With your support and generous donations CCF was able make a $2500 grant to sponsor a 3 day intensive Menstrual Hygiene leadership training for 26 women and 1 man from rural and urban areas throughout Nepal. Our partner Kesang Yudron organized the event arranging for the respected team at the Radha Paudel Foundation to do the training and our partners at the Association for Craft Producers generously donated their meeting hall for the event. According to participants it was a huge success! Twenty seven individual community leaders, many who have no formal education, are now trained and ready to venture out and organize their own trainings in their villages and communities. Women came from as far away as Nepalgunj, Ghatbesi, Barpak and Sertung. All were from different ethnic groups and by the end of the training Kesang said they had all bonded so closely that they felt like one village.The focus of the 3 day workshop was to educate rural and urban community leaders on issues of gender inequality, reproduction, menstrual hygiene, menstruation tools and management, taboos and myths related to menstruation in Nepal,as well as religious beliefs concerning menstruation and laws that support women’s rights. The goal is to increase their understanding of these issues so they can disseminate information to women and men in their local communities and help demystify menstruation and allow women to lead normal and healthy lives free of restrictions!
Educate Recipients: Shorter Trainings, Menstrupedia Comic Books
Half Day Trainings
Following the 3 day training of leaders, CCF granted another $250 for 3 shorter half day trainings by the Radha Paudel Foundation for women producers at the Association for Craft Producers and the girls involved in CCF’s Power of 5 education program and Joy Attwood College scholarship programs there. The first 2 short programs for the producers have already taken place and they were met with great enthusiasm.As soon as girls in the education programs can be gathered, perhaps over the Doshain holidays, they will receive a training. CCF hopes to have these trainings ongoing as girls grow up and women come into the ACP workforce. All of the participants said they learned so much and are eager to go out and spread the word. Each of them who wanted received a reusable menstrual pad kit and will be giving their feedback on how they have used it and liked it. We look forward to making them better and better and available with all the future trainings!
Menstrupedia Comic Books!
In the fall of 2017 CCF purchased 120 copies of the amazing comic book Menstrupedia. Already translated into Nepali, Menstrupedia aims to end the menstruation myth in culturally sensitive ways and to empower girls by opening up the conversation and helping develop language to address the topic. CCF is currently raising money to purchase these books to help educate Nepali girls and their mothers at ACP. While in Nepal in October of 2017, CCF board members were able to distribute some at the rural school in Ghat Besi and to the women health care workers at the Baseri Health Clinic.
