Kashmir 2023

We partnered with Sky Trust (Stand for Kashmiri Youth), an NGO based out of Kashmir, in 2021 on their MHM - Let us talk about it - campaign. In this campaign we provided 1,000 Mooncatcher kits which were provided to girls and women in 20 villages of district Baramulla and Bandipora along with awareness sessions.

To commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8th we, along with our partner Sky Trust, planned five MHM workshops over three days in Kashmir.

Day 1 - Doodhmarg Tral, District Pulwama

We flew into Srinagar and went straight from th airport to our our first workshop with the Gujjar Bkharwal community of sheep herders in   Dhoodmarg Tral.  It took us almost 3 hours to get there. This workshop came about based on inputs from a young journalism student Rayees Ramzan, Srinagar University  who heard some news report on lack of MHM awareness in the Gujjar community.  This piqued his interest and Rayees interviewed a lady physician at the local hospital in Tral on menstrual problems in the community and the high rate of infections. He decided to investigate further, it took him almost a month to speak to an elder of the community who confirmed their lack of awareness regarding menstruation.

We were meet by Rayees who had mobilized a group of 36 women and girls. The participants were very shy, in the pictures it appears that there are more older women. However this is because the younger girls are extremely uncomfortable talking to people and also do not like their pictures taken. Also if we want to change the mindset we have to include the mothers and grandmothers.

It was telling that not one of the older women  in the group could tell us why we had periods. The answer was that it was a curse to be suffered.  Gaining  the trust of such a community that pretty much keeps to itself requires a  lot of baby steps and a big thank you to Rayees for making this possible.

When we introduced the topic, a  few women got up and left.  It took a while before we were able to get them to participate they mostly nodded and looked away not making eye ccontact.We succeeded in getting 28 women and girls to take our kits. Rayees will be following up.

36 participants, 28 kits distrubuted

Day 2 - Sangerwani, District Pulwama

In our second workshop an anganwadi worker (health worker) was present. Their job is to educate women on maternal health  etc but often times they themselves have outdated beliefs and continue to perpetuate them. She insisted that the women even though poor used new cloth each time they had their period.  We asked where did they get it,  she gave some mumbo jumbo answer.  She also proceeded to tell us that she gave them iron tablets to make up for their loss of blood during menstruation.

In such instances the best way to proceed is to not contradict lbut go ahead with the facts and get the attention of the women.Many of the women had no idea that there were three openings between their legs. They told us that they often faced hardships in finding cloth  and were very happy to receive our kits. Also they felt that it was a bad omen for men to see their used cloth and so they hid it to dry.

It appeared to be a  successful workshop, they listened though hardly anyone spoke. They all raised their hands when asked if they had learned something useful.

23 participants, 23 kits distributed

Day 2 - Nagbal, District Budgam

The third workshop was in the village where Rayees had paved the way for the elder lady to speak up without hesitation on what could be perceived as a difficult subject, after a month long interaction. The highlight was meeting her in person. Special mention must be made of the intense curiosity and inclination of all the participants towards improving their health and lifestyle. Senior members of the community spoke up,the village head ( a man) came to speak before the session started and he encouraged the women to participate and be proactive about their health. It was the first time an NGO had come to their area. Grateful to Rayees for making this possible.

This was our final workshop with the Gujjar community.

37 participants, 37 kits distributed

Day 3 - Shadipora, District Bandipora

Our fourth workshop took place at the Government Middle School in Shadipora. Sky Trust has been training girls to be MHM volunteers so they can work  in their own community.  We were introduced to  Joziya and Afreen  who conducted the workshop. They also gave feedback on how the knowledge of menstrual health and the distribution of kits had improved the lives of girls  in this area. The vibrant confidence of the volunteers and the knowledge disseminated to the girls is to be noted and appreciated. A teacher at the school  volunteered the information that while absenteeism was there during menstruation among girls, the drop out rate was low, pegged at two.

34 participants, 26 kits distributed

Day 3 - Shatulpora, District Bandipor

Our final workshop was held in Shatulpora . Some of the participants had been sensitized earlier by the facilitators from Sky Trust and they were tasked with educating their peers. The goal being to get them talking and break the silence on this subject. Most of the girls were 8th,  10 th standard drop outs. They were broken into four groups and each group had to present on one aspect of MHM. There was lot of discussion which was facilitated by both Shashi Kiran and Sky Trust.  From each group a  first timer got to present. Topics were physiology of menstruationMyths and taboosNutrition and hygieneWhen to go to the doctor.

The girls were amazing, they spoke up  and asked a lot of questions.  A very lively end to our time there.  This workshop was what we hope to achieve each time we do an awareness session - an open discussion where girls are comfortable to speak freely.

21 participants, 21 kits distributed

To conclude, the 3 day MHM workshops  held amongst both community groups of women and adolescent girls, can be said to have achieved the desired outcome of promoting menstrual health, hygiene and increased confidence levels.