The document discusses making menstruation hygienic and less stigmatized in Nepal. It notes that cultural taboos in Nepal prohibit women's participation during menstruation. As alternatives to expensive disposable pads, reusable cloth pads called alternative sanitary pads (ASPs) are introduced. The ASPs are affordable to make locally using natural materials. The document outlines a project to educate communities about menstruation and teach ASP making. It shares positive feedback from participants, including increased comfort and acceptance of menstruation.

1. Making Menstruation
hygienic and ‘fun’
Shubha Kayastha
International Coordinator
in charge for Advocacy

2. • When was the first time you heard
about menstruation?
What was your age?
By whom?
What was been said and what did you
understood?

3. Background
•In Nepal, Menstrual taboos that are deeply rooted in the culture of
some castes prohibit women and girls from fully participating in daily
life and inhibit their education.
• Some girls and women are not allowed to enter a kitchen, touch
water, attend religious functions, and in extreme cases, are not
allowed to drink cow milk, eat fruit or sleep in a bed.

4. Young girls and Water, sanitation and
Hygiene (WASH)
School drop out of adolescent girls

5. Chhaupadi

6. Market available Sanitary Pads:
• Hygienic but usually expensive, not available
everywhere
• Easy to carry, difficult to dispose
• Use of chemicals for white colour
MSP → Papers → woods and natural
materials→ cutting down of trees →
deforestation

7. • Women and girls in poor countries can’t afford
sanitary pads or tampons
• Instead, the vast majority of women and girls
in Nepal use rags. These are usually torn from
old clothes
• washable, reusable,
• Unhygienic - Dried in dark shade
• Issues of shame

8. Alternative Sanitary Pad (ASP)

9. Merits and Demerits
Alternative Sanitary Pad (ASP)
• Affordable, can use available resources
• (Rs. 50-60 = less than $1)
• reusable but not always practical
• Environmental friendly but could have negative
consequences to health (if not properly washed and dried)
• Applicable in the rural areas and attractive
(designs and sewing)
• No chemicals, harmful elements

10. Project on Alternative Sanitary Pad (ASP)

11. After the orientation………

12. Menstruation MELA

14. A young couple making ASP together

15. Achievements:
Tara Sharma, (18) said, ‘Now I can carry it easily
without being identified by others.’
A male youth supervisor (32) shared, this is a new
concept and will be popular in our village
A young girl (19), from Western Nepal shared that,
‘I have made few more and gifted to my cousins’

16. THANK YOU
NAMASTE