DIGNIFY, EDUCATE, EMPLOY and EMPOWER Disadvantaged Girls & Women

$11,105.90

Raised

Donations

$25,000

Goal


Donate to Dignify, Educate, Employ, and Empower Disadvantaged Girls & Women, to and Fight Period Poverty and Period Stigma
 


S.H.I.N.E (Spread Hope, Inspire, Nourish & Empower) is a 501c3 Non Profit championing Women empowerment, Equality, and Education. SHINE was started in early 2020 by a group of girls from Robbinsville High School who are highly motivated social enthusiasts.

Our mission is to lift marginalized and underprivileged girls & women out of poverty to bring back dignity and hope in their lives


 By supporting our "Pen & Pads" initiative, your can help lift orphaned, disadvantaged girls and women out of period poverty,
reinstate dignity, and empower them through education and employment.


LET US DO SOMETHING AWESOME TODAY!

 
PEN for Education, PAD for Period poverty, Period stigma, and Sustainable solution


Objectives:


  • Fight Pad Poverty by donating period products
  • Destigmatize menstruation by raising awareness
  • Advocate Eco-friendly period products ( bio-degradable pads, cloth pads, cups)
  • Upskill and employ women by setting up micro-factory


Planned Initiatives:



Kolkata is home to India's largest prostitution district. Most sex workers are victims of abuse and sex trafficking, and their children are collateral victims. They are mostly abandoned, unloved, uneducated, and malnourished. There is an alarming need to educate young girls on menstrual hygiene, provide hygiene products (Dignity Packs), and basic nourishment to prevent them from falling victim to the sex trade.
 


 
Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, with 51% below the poverty line, has a whopping 42% of menstruating girls who drop out of school and are forced into child marriage. Most drop out of school due to fear of social shaming and lack of basic infrastructure (toilets and water). Only 4% of rural women are employed, most are unskilled and lack basic awareness of menstrual health and hygiene.
 
We aim to adopt a village, raise awareness, educate and economically empower marginalized women. Our team will upskill marginalized tribal women to manufacture pads, build a micro-factory and employ them, creating a sustainable income for them.



So, Why do have to act on this NOW?


An issue that has been widely neglected as a public and social issue is Menstruation Health & Hygiene (MHH) management. MHM is at the juncture of critical aspects of women empowerment – Education, Economics, Health, Dignity, and Inclusivity. There are numerous victims whose prayers go unanswered due to the stigma and personal privacy.


In the United States, for the most part, menstruation can be an inconvenience, but it is not life-altering. However, in rural villages and impoverished urban areas in India and much of the low and medium-income countries, the situation is vastly different.


The culture of silence and strong stigmas around menstruation can lead to negative consequences including dropping out of school early, limited access to job opportunities, and the most severe of which are infections and illnesses such as cervical cancer. These consequences contribute to gender inequality and economic disparity.


Globally, an alarming number of rural and disadvantaged girls/women continue to use old clothes, leaves, and sawdust in extreme cases, leading to severe health issues. For many, period products such as pads and hygiene products are out of reach due to financial constraints. About 35% of rural girls are estimated to drop out of school due to public shaming and social stigma around periods.
 
In the USA, a recent study found that 1 in 3 young people have been shamed or teased because of their period, nearly 16.9 million menstruators in the US are living in poverty and two third could not afford menstrual products in the last year, and about 3 in 4 young women believe that boys and men need to be involved in the Period conversation.


There is growing evidence that shows that investing in MHH can positively benefit several areas across women and girls’ lives, such as economic benefits, participation in education, empowerment, health, and mental health; thus MHH is central to advancing gender equality as a whole. By educating girls, economically empowering, and signifying disadvantaged women, we not only help them break out of the poverty cycle but also be free thinkers, self-confident, and economically independent.




Donor Wall22

Christian | $7

VASUDEVAN CHANDRABOSE

Amutha, your involvement in such activities that care for others is commendable - Thama

Kodanda Madhurakavi | $25

Arokia punitha Maria | $100

Good Luck with the donation drive Amudha! Keep up the good 👍

Avinash Kuttuva | $101

Best wishes Niha and Team!

Bryn | $52.32

Cheryl Deborja | $52.32

Preeti Gowri | $104.12

All the very best. Proud of you girls for doing this!

Leuba

Good luck for all your hard work to support a great cause!

omprakash | $25

Geetha Senthilkumar | $52.32

Great and all the best!!

Seshasayee | $52.32

Seshadri | $50

veera surampudi | $100

Good luck guys!!

BEJOY | $104.12

Best wishes Niha . Great initiative 👏 👍 God Bless 🙏

Saradhi Yeruva | $200

Impressive project. Good luck to the team.

Gunaseelan | $26.41

William Foster | $100

Vijay Kumar | $207.40

Good luck girls

Shaheen

Way to go girls- keep up the show.

Abhay | $62.68

Thank you all for putting together a great initiatives towards empowering girls and women in rural villages of India. All the very best!

Balagangadhar | $52.32