#EndPeriodPoverty: Addressing the issue of unaffordable menstrual products

The #EndPeriodPoverty project in Sri Lanka organised by the Rotaract Club of Colombo Regent came to a close on September 21.

The project which was a limb of the “Charity for Goodness 3.0” programme was carried out for the third consecutive year as a joint collaboration with several other clubs around the world to promote awareness on menstrual health, particularly the challenges faced by low-income communities, who cannot afford sanitary products.

The Rotaract Club of Colombo Regent was invited to be a part of “Charity of Goodness” this year by the Rotaract Club of Ambarnath (India), who initiated this programme in 2019, along with 99 other International rotaract clubs.

This year, the Rotaract Club of Colombo Regent donated sanitary products to underprivileged girls and women as the project was a direct response to issues of affordability of sanitary products among low-income communities in Sri Lanka.

The project also aims to spread awareness regarding menstrual health and break the local taboos and stigmas surrounding the topic through the conducting of awareness programmes, social media campaigns and health camps – particularly for women of low-income communities.

The project which began on August 27 has since successfully raised funds for and donated sanitary products to an orphanage benefitting 43 young girls. The club also plans on carrying out comprehensive surveys to identify other needy communities and catering to their need in a sustainable manner.

Therefore, while the donation segment of the programme has been concluded at this stage, the research and analysis segment is set to be underway swiftly. The organisers said the contribution by the Rotaract Club of Colombo Regent this year for Charity of Goodness 3.0 is quite small due to the time factor, the imposed deadline, and the lockdown situation.

“We are grateful to donors and beneficiaries who made this possible under the circumstances,” they said.

However, upon completion of the research and analysis stage, a greater and more impactful venture shall be implemented to address the issue of menstrual health and the affordability of sanitary products by low-income communities on a national scale.

Anyone who wishes to contribute can reach the organisers through their email -internationalservice@colomboregent.org.