Girls who are menstruating in Nepal experience unsanitary, unhygienic conditions that leave them open to infection and the indignity of being forced to use unclean rags, leaves, and other ineffective methods to manage menstrual blood flow every month. The are less likely to attend classes, undermining their prospects for completing their education, experts say. Girl students in rural Nepal age 12-18 often stay at home and miss school during menstruation because they cannot afford or do not have access to expensive disposable sanitary pads. As girls miss school regularly, they fall behind in their studies and often drop out. Some have embarrassing bleed-through accidents and/or contract infection. Too many suffer loss of dignity and self confidence.
"Many girls drop out at secondary level and only 30 percent of the cohorts reach the 10th grade," Sumon Kamal Tuladhar, an education specialist with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).The literacy rate for females stands at just 44.2 percent as opposed to 67.7 percent for males, according to Nepal's Ministry of Education.
In Nepal, according to the 2011 National Household Census, this percentage is slightly higher at 47.79 per cent2 of its national population. Most of these women and girls will menstruate regularly each month for between two - seven days. Menstruation is a natural part of the reproductive cycle. However, in many parts of the world and Nepal, it remains taboo, stigmatized, 'hidden' and rarely discussed. In worse case scenarios prevailing negative cultural practices that surround menstruation impact negatively on the lives, the health and safety of women and girls and reinforce gender inequalities and exclusion. As a result menstruation for many girls and women is not understood or managed effectively, which can have a negative effect on a girl's well-being including her school attendance and learning opportunities.
The objectives of the project are to:
1. Provide an integrated approach to addressing girls' needs for effective sanitary pads and sex education through distribution of effective, culturally sensitive, and reusable menstrual hygiene products. These 'kits' contain underwear, reusable sanitary pads, a washcloth, plastic zip bags, and a menstrual calendar all designed to last for up to three years.
2. Reduce the stigma and shame of menstruation through use of these products and age-and culturally appropriate reproductive health education for girls and capacity building among local health aides.
Project Activities
1.Sewing & Distribution of 5000 reusable sanitary pad kits
2.Menstrual Health Hygiene training & awareness at school level & community level
All the fund will be used for sewing & distribution of 5000 reusable sanitary pad kits plus training on menstrual health hygiene at school and community level
Club member will be involved in following aspects
1.Fundraising
2.Project implementation and management
3.Monitoring & Evaluation
4.Reporting
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