We're a group of young Nepalese people who want to rebuild our society. We want to be the first generation to fight the menstruation taboo in communities and help women gain more independence. We are the first generation of adults to have access to internet and international media and we are going to use our limited resources to make a change. Juneli Nepal is our heart project that we'd want to co
ntinue for generations to come. Our work includes workshops for women and men to create awareness and provide prevention in health issues related to menstruation. By teaching about health, common diseases, hygiene, the female body, menstruation and women’s rights the women can hopefully improve the perception about their own body and give up on outdated ideas of cultural habits. Moreover, we are teaching them how to sew reusable menstruation pads which they can use for many years during their menstruation. This will not only avoid infections due to lack of sanitary items but also improve their hygienic situation and their mobility. By involving the women and girls actively in the process of sewing the pads instead of only providing finished pads or money their motivation to use the pads later will increase and they can be proud of their own product. Nepalese women and men who want to be part as trainers of this project are taught by a gynecologist and a women’s rights lawyer about health, menstruation, the female body and women’s rights. Later on, they will get salary and drive to different rural areas all over Nepal to teach in different villages and schools. Juneli Nepal provides material to sew reusable menstruation pads including thick cotton, waterproof, falatin, needles, threat, scissors, buttons, as well as soaps and underpants. The girls and women of the villages receive education about menstruation, the menstrual cycle, health, problems during menstruation, culture superstitions and women’s rights. Also, we will show them how to use and clean the reusable pads. Every woman gets materials to sew four pads of different sizes for heavy and light flow of menstruation. The boys and men of the villages get taught about health, hygiene and menstruation and discuss with our male members to create awareness and make them understand the problems and needs of a woman. The workshop will be held in Nepalese by a Nepalese women and men supported by foreign volunteers. We are hoping to improve and empower the role of Nepalese girls and women in their society and to create an awareness of menstruation and cultural superstitions to Nepalese men and women to break with the taboo and make them understand the naturalness of Menstruation. Every rethinking achieved into a woman’s mind probably won’t be able to grow until there will be a change in the men’s mind too. This is why this project won’t only address to the women but also provides educational advertising for men. Providing salary for the male and female members of Juneli Nepal will allow us to create new job opportunities for Nepalese people. In the future we can think of extending the sewing workshops of Juneli Nepal for handicraft products to support women in need by making their lives self-sustainable.
