Women and girls around the world, especially in low income communities, often face a lack of access to menstrual products. Without proper sanitary supplies, they may resort to using newspaper, dirty rags, and even leaves to manage their periods.

The combination of period poverty, stigmatization, and inadequate reproductive and sexual health education has major consequences for girls’ wellbeing. It can also prevent girls from staying in school therefore ending their education. 

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR GIRLS TO STAY IN SCHOOL?

If girls receive seven full years of education, they will marry an average of four years later and have 2.2 fewer children. If they attend just one additional year of secondary school, their lifetime wages could increase by up to twenty-five percent, consequently raising their countries’ GDPs by billions of dollars.

If India enrolled just one percent more girls in school, their GDP would rise by 5.5 billion dollars.

It’s simple; educating women and girls has a concrete economic and social impact on individuals, communities and nations.

Through innovation, education, and advocacy,  Samarpan Shakti Pads aims to help move towards a world where girls feel empowered in their bodies, achieve economic independence, understand their reproductive and sexual health options, and harness the power to shape their lives.

At present, Samarpan distributes an average of 15,000 pads every month to women and girls living in the slums and on construction sites.

Samarpan Trust

THE ISSUE: MENSTRUAL EQUITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GIRLS’ EDUCATION

Shakti Pads

Women's Alliance

Samarpan Women's Alliance is a women's empowerment initiative aiming to alleviate women's suffering, raise awareness of women's health & hygiene, and promote equality for all. At present, the Women's Alliance is working towards this goal through the running of  Vocational Training Programs, Distribution of Shakti Pads, and Awareness Camps on Women's Health.