MOST WOMEN AND GIRLS IN RURAL NEPAL HAVE NO ACCESS TO SANITARY TOWELS AND TAMPONS FOR THEIR MENSTRUATION. THERE ARE ALSO SOME STRICT HINDU PRACTICES THAT CAN MEAN THAT THEY ARE SEPARATED FROM SOCIETY.

THIS CAN MEAN THAT THEY ARE VERY VUNERABLE DURING THEIR PERIOD. 

GIRLS ARE SOMETIMES UNABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL, EITHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING TO STOP THE BLEEDING, OR BECAUSE TRADITION DICTATES THAT THEY ARE SEPARATE.

THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO RAISE MONEY TO SUPPLY REUSABLE SANITARY TOWELS TO WOMEN AND GIRLS IN A RURAL VILLAGE CALLED BASERI, IN DHADING DISTRICT.

HONOURING THAT HOWEVER WOMEN SPEND THEIR TIME DURING THEIR PERIOD THEY SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HYGIENIC AND COMFORTABLE.

A KIT FOR ONE WOMAN COSTS AROUND £11. IT INCLUDES TWO PAIRS OF UNDERWEAR AND TWO BASE SANITARY TOWELS WITH 10 INSERTS THAT CAN BE CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE DAY, ALL MADE OF NATURAL COTTON.

ALSO IN THE KIT BAG IS SOAP, A WASHING LINE AND PEGS AS THE IMPORATNCE OF WASHING THROUGHLY AND DRYING IN THE SUN ARE PARAMOUNT.

I'M WORKING WITH MY GOOD FRIENDS SABIN AND MEENA, WHO ARE BOTH SO PASSIONATE ABOUT CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR COUNTRY.
MEENA HAD THE IDEA FOR THE KITS WHEN SHE WAS SPEAKING TO WOMEN IN FAR WEST NEPAL ABOUT HOW THEIR MENSTRUATION EFFECTS THEIR LIVES.

IT'S THEIR HARD WORK AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO ORGANISE THE LOGISTICS THAT MAKES THE PROJECT HAPPEN.

 TO HAVE THE KITS MADE IN KATHMANDU, TO ORGANISE TRANSPORT, TO INFORM LOCAL PEOPLE OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND ENCOURAGE THE WOMEN TO COME.

FIRST I  SET UP A GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE FUNDS TO, EXPLAINING THE GOALS AND COSTS.

THEN TO START RAISING MONEY MY FAMILY AND  I DID A SPONSORED WALK ACROSS THE ISLE OF WIGHT TO GENERATE AWARENESS.

AND IN OCTOBER 2018 WITH THE HELP OF MY WONDERFUL ISLAND FRIENDS, WE HELD A CHARITY YOGA CLASS, 

FOLLOWED BY CUPS OF TEA AND CAKES IN A BEAUTIFUL BARN ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT.
THE EVENT RAISED £300 TAKING THE TOTAL RAISED AT THAT TIME UP TO £960.

BY THE TIME I RETURNED TO NEPAL IN NOVEMBER 2018 WE HAD RAISED OVER £2000 - ENOUGH TO PROVIDE 200 KITS FOR WOMEN IN BASERI VILLAGE.

WAY BEYOND WHAT I THOUGHT POSSIBLE IN A SHORT TIME!