Support Menstrual Dignity & Period Care for Girls and Women in Need

Every Girl Deserves Dignity, Opportunity, and Uninterrupted Education - Every Day of the Month

India is home to an estimated 355 million menstruating girls and women, yet only approximately 36% have access to safe menstrual hygiene products. The lack of awareness, access, and supportive environments continues to severely affect the education, health, confidence, and dignity of millions of girls across the country. Tragically, nearly 24% of rural girls drop out of school around puberty, while 71% of girls have no knowledge of menstruation before experiencing their first period. This pervasive silence leaves adolescent girls vulnerable to fear, stigma, misinformation, shame, and unsafe menstrual hygiene practices.

For many girls, menstruation becomes more than a health challenge, it becomes a barrier to education, confidence, mobility, and opportunity.

Aakar Social Ventures is working to break this painful cycle through community-led and climate-conscious menstrual health interventions. Currently, our campaign is supporting 5,000 adolescent girls and women across underserved schools and communities in Maharashtra. We create sustainable and long-term impact by integrating:

• Access to safe, and eco-friendly sanitary pads
• Comprehensive menstrual health and hygiene education
• Behaviour-change communication programs

And awareness on responsible menstrual waste management along with Inclusive engagement with all stakeholders to create supportive and stigma-free environments for girls This holistic model addresses menstrual health not only as a health issue, but also as a matter of education, gender equity, dignity, confidence, and social inclusion.

The impact of Aakar Social Ventures' intervention model is transformative and external field assessments revealed that school attendance during menstruation increased from 73% to 90%, menstrual discrimination and social exclusion reduced drastically from 71% to 1% and 97% of girls reported improved school participation and confidence. These outcomes reflect increased awareness, reduced stigma, stronger community support, and greater continuity in girls’ education.

For girls like 12 year-old Sakshi, who once missed school every month due to fear and embarrassment, this program means she can now attend classes confidently without interruption.

“Earlier I used to stay home during my periods because I felt scared and ashamed. Now I go to school confidently every day.” - Sakshi, Hingoli, Maharashtra

Through this initiative, Aakar Social Ventures will provide 5,000 underserved adolescent girls and women with year-round access to eco-friendly sanitary pads, and menstrual health education. Every contribution directly helps improve health and hygiene outcomes, knowledge, dignity and self-confidence, participation, responsible menstrual practices. For many girls, this support means staying in school with confidence instead of missing classrooms in silence.

We envision a future where menstruation is never a barrier to education, dignity, health, or opportunity. Together, we can build period-positive schools and communities where every girl feels safe, confident, informed, and empowered - every single day of the month.

Your support can help ensure that girls and women protect their health, live with dignity, and pursue their aspirations - without their periods limiting their potential.