To ensure underprivileged women live with dignity, a Navi Mumbai-based foundation — Safe-n-Happy Periods — and AIESEC have started a sanitary napkin collection drive.
The drive that began from May 1 aims to collect over 1,000 packets of sanitary napkins and distribute them to underprivileged girls and women living in the slum areas of Belapur and Diwale village on May 28, World Menstrual Hygiene Day. The campaign has so far received a good response. The forum so far managed to collect 70 packets of sanitary pads.
Sarika Gupta, the founder of Safe-n-Happy Periods, says the drive is to help underprivileged women who have to make a choice between buying sanitary items and feeding their family. She says the drive is also aimed at creating awareness of menstrual hygiene. On May 28, the foundation will conduct workshops to educate women about hygiene, and teach simple yoga techniques to help ease menstrual cramps.
Ms. Gupta says, “The heart of this initiative is to inform young girls about bodily changes and prepare them to enter womanhood. We hope to provide a system that will sustain them as they grow to become confident women at ease with their bodies.” Ms. Gupta founded Safe-n-Happy Periods with her daughter in January 2016. So far, the foundation has reached out to over 15,000 girls and women across India.
“We urge privileged youngsters to join this campaign and make it more meaningful,” says Ms. Gupta. To join or donate a pack pf sanitary pads contact 84250-63301 or visit Safenhappyperiods.org
