Lightshore Foundation and Jibon Youth collaborated to install a napkin dispenser box and conducted an awareness workshop on menstrual health at Kaukhali Girls High School in Rangamati hill district on September 24.
The two-hour session, held from 10am-12pm, engaged around 200 adolescent girls in discussions about menstrual management and hygiene.
The workshop emphasized hygiene practices, sanitary napkin usage during menstruation, menstrual-friendly sanitation, and dispelled prevalent societal superstitions and misconceptions while providing essential guidance to the students.
Aparajita's President Saida, along with Vice President Tahmina Yasmin, led the session in the presence of Kaukhali Girls High School Headmaster Mohammad Abdul Quader and senior teachers.
They distributed sanitary napkins, introduced a "Dispenser Box" and provided dustbins for proper disposal in their efforts to create menstrual-friendly facilities.
Saida, Aparajita's president, mentioned that Lightshore and Jibon is committed to tirelessly promoting menstrual health awareness among teenagers, particularly in remote hilly areas, where girls often hesitate to discuss menstruation openly.
Their efforts aim to replace unhygienic practices with sanitary pads and ensure their accessibility, safeguarding girls' well-being.
Ruithuiching Marma, a seventh grader student who participated in the session, said: "I am only in class seven and before this session I had no idea about menstrual health even from my family. Now I am mentally prepared for my first period."
Kaukhali Girls High School Headmaster Mohammad Abdul Quader praised the overall event and thanked the organizing organizations for contributing to sustainable development by creating a healthy habit by installing sanitary pad boxes for the first time.
The sanitary pads have been distributed in cooperation with Senora and Aparajita to increase awareness on menstrual health management in hilly areas under the initiative of Jibon Youth Foundation and Lightshore Foundation.
JCI Dhaka Founders was the strategic partner and Dainik Ittefaq was the media partner for the successful completion of the session.
In addition, Senora has fully supported the entire organization and Aparajita has implemented it at the field level.