Project Period by Samairaa Atri

In January2020, on my 12th birthday, I decided to start Project Period. Project Period aims to promote a Healthy, Sustainable and Dignified menstruation to women from a low-income background. In order to have a better understanding, I have been in touch with few experts to kick start with project on the right note. This is when I came across ECO-FEMME, an organisation who have been producing and selling cloth pads and also providing menstrual health education. They have been also working for the same cause I aim for. Hence, I realised that we share a similar vision. Its been over 2 months now that I have been working with them. I used my birthday savings to initiate Project Period and distribute menstrual-care packages to women from a low-income background. Since COVID-19 has a serious financial impact on families with a low-income background, there are more chances of pads not being in their list of essentials. A lot of women and girls can’t afford proper menstrual products. Then i did a fund-raiser with KETTO.org in association with ECO-FEMME which allowed me to distribute more menstrual care packages containing four cloth pads, detergent and a soap in a reusable bag.

I have till now distributed more than 200 menstrual care packages which include 4 reusable pads and soaps to clean theme

As you are aware, Disposable pads are made out of plastic and harmful chemicals but cloth pads are biodegradable, which make them eco and economically sustainable. These cloth pads last 2-3 years minimum. So, it is the best choice for women in every aspect. Menstruation should not something one is ashamed of and not something we cannot discuss. Apart from distributing these packages, I would like to impart education to both boys and girls about menstruation, its importance hence breaking down this taboo in our society. For this, I have started two story series “Let’s talk,Period”(A story series where women and girls from all backgrounds express their thoughts and feelings on menstruation.) and “My First Period”(a mosaic of stories from boys and men, sharing their first experience of learning about periods.)

I also held an educational session with the school female staff on Menstruation and proper mentrual products.. it was an informal discussion with them about periods, talking about hygiene and breaking the taboo of periods. After my experience of working with women of low-income backgrounds, I realised that their absence of awareness was more than I thought. Earning women from these backgrounds, who have teenage daughters, have had their first conversation on periods with me. I realised a lot of work has to be done.

I am still working on my initiative Project Period educating women and girls and providing information, products and changing mindsets and along the way experiencing and educating myself too.

Founders and Mentors

I am Samairaa Atri from the Shri Ram School Moulsari. I’m 13 years old and I am a feminist. I believe in gender equality and women empowerment. For the last 2-3 years I have been doing alot of research in this field and discussing my interests to pursue my initiatives with my parents, friends, family etc to learn and understand so that I can pursue and start my initiative in this field. Also for the last four years, I have been fundraising on my birthday for an NGO called Tulir which works with the prevention and healing of child sexual abuse.

Pritika Vij is a senior at The Shri Ram School, Moulsari who hopes to make a tangible change in her community. As a science student, she loves to use the concepts learnt inside the classroom to solve problems in the outside world. During the pandemic, she started SkillBridge- an organization that conducted a virtual summer mentorship programme to raise funds to aid a charity school’s transition to online learning. Throughout high school, she has been involved in a multitude of public speaking events including MUNs and Debates, at the international level. From organizing TEDx conferences to founding Girl Up TSRS, a gender-equality based initiative which aims to level the scales through education, advocacy and empowerment, she is always involved in something new and exciting. Pritika is also the Head Girl of her school. During her term, she prioritized well-being and mental health by conducting frequent check-ins with every class and organising a ‘Happiness Week’.

Project Period by Samairaa Atri

Founders and Mentors

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