From Pune to Tamil Nadu: How One Organization Transformed the Lives of Girls with a Simple Donation Drive!
Pune, 27th May 2023: On the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated on 28th May, the Jagruti Foundation organized a sanitary pad donation drive across four different locations.
The drive took place at 10 SwaCH Kotis in Pune, benefiting 160 girl students at DDU GKY Training & Skilling Development Center in the PCMC area, as well as through the Swadhar Organization in Osmanabad, catering to specially-abled adolescent girls. Additionally, the initiative extended its reach to Tamil Nadu through Gramalaya, an organization blessed by Padmashri Damaodaran, which donated sanitary pads to adolescent girls of The Spastics Society of Tiruchirappalli.
The donation drive aimed to shed light on the menstrual needs of special individuals by providing Giocare cloth pad kits, making their period days more manageable. Recognizing that different individuals have different needs, the initiative emphasized that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to menstrual hygiene.
The Menstrual Hygiene Day activities were not limited to a single day but were preceded by the Red Dot campaign, spearheaded by Sathya, which focused on raising awareness about the safe disposal of sanitary pads among hostel students at the Skill Center hosted by Suvarna Tapkir.
This year, the distribution of 300 packs to SwaCH workers was not just a distribution drive but also an expression of gratitude for their tireless efforts in covering over 70% of Pune. SwaCH waste-pickers handle approximately 20 metric tonnes of household sanitary waste each day.
The Red Dot awareness program specifically addresses the safe disposal of soiled pads and diapers. By raising awareness, the initiative aims to highlight the challenges faced by waste-pickers who handle such waste as part of their daily work. Exposed to various harmful pathogens, including staphylococcus, hepatitis, E. Coli, and salmonella, these workers are at risk. Moreover, improper disposal of sanitary waste undermines both the dignity of labor and environmental health in urban areas.
To make a difference, SwaCH provides safe alternatives for the disposal of sanitary waste, ensuring the well-being of the public and waste-pickers alike.
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