Generating Awareness on Menstrual Hygiene Management

Summary

Innovation: ‘Yes, I Bleed’ towards sensitization and awareness on menstrual hygiene

Duration: One Day

Location: A Government College in Diu, Daman and Diu

Key Stakeholders: District Administration, Department of Education, Adolescent Girls and Boys, School Administrations, School Teachers.

Brief Description

The District Administration organized a campaign entitled ‘Yes, I Bleed’ in collaboration with the Department of Education to educate college-going girls and boys on menstrual hygiene and gender inequality. During the campaign, a movie ‘Padman’ was screened to sensitize students about the topical nature of this topic. By breaking myths and discrediting shame related to menstruation, students were made to understand that menstruation is a normal biological process. At the end of the movie screening, students and faculty members took a pledge to ‘Protect and Educate Every Girl Child’. In aiming to create a protective environment that not only encourages learning, but also sensitizes students, particularly boys.

Factors Contributing to Success

One of the strengths of this campaign was in the collaborative approach adopted by the District Administration and Department of Education. The choice of topics and manner in which they were delivered, i.e., showcasing of movie followed by discussions, helped create a safe and sensitive environment that would enable students to express their thoughts and opinions without hesitation.

Outcome, Benefits & Impact

Besides sensitizing 347 students (both girls and boys), The biggest impact of this campaign was that it provided a platform for adolescents to not only raise their voice against gender discrimination, but also engage with peer and experiential learning through the sharing of personal stories on myths surrounding the issue.

Challenges and Future Prospects

The organization of this programme led to the realization that there was an urgent need to educate girls and boys on menstruation and gender equality, which are not captured in mainstream education, due to the sensitive nature of these subjects. This activity successfully achieved the objective of changing the mindsets of boys and girls through persuasion and discussion. By addressing the biggest challenge of changing society’s perception of these issues, the District Administration has taken a step towards creating a better informed student community. In order to expand the reach of this activity, the Administration has planned to organise such campaigns in private and Government schools and scale up this initiative.

Source: Innovations under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao