Women's Health, Hygiene, & Safety Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.
At Salam LADC we believe all women deserve to feel safe and have access to sanitary products for protection during their period. For many women in the Bekaa Valley, this is simply not the case.
*UPDATE*
In partnership with the NGO ‘Wingwoman’ Salam LADC are carrying out a project 'Sustainable Dignity' involving the production and distribution of reusable women’s sanitary pads.
Context
Sanitary pads are up to 90% plastic. With approximately 2 million women in Lebanon of menstruating age (12 to 50 years; World Population Review), and the average woman using 22 products per cycle and having 13 cycles per year (Women’s Environmental Network), it is likely that almost 600 million disposable period products are ending up in Lebanon’s overflowing landfills each year.
Furthermore, more than 80% of the population in Lebanon are living below the poverty line. Period poverty now affects 76% of those menstruating in Lebanon. This disproportionately affects those in refugee and migrant communities but increasingly Lebanese people as well. Period poverty can lead to mental and physical health issues and contributes to the increasing unemployment of women and reduced school attendance.
A survey of 20 adult women attending educational activities at Salam LADC’s Saadnayel Community Centre revealed that all were unable to cover the cost of basic hygiene items, and 1 in 3 sometimes had to use non-standard items such as toilet paper and old clothes instead of period products.
What will we do?
Awareness sessions will be given to promote usage, challenge taboos surrounding periods and provide a safe space in sharing experiences.
The beneficiaries creating the reusable sanitary packs will be paid for their work. 100 reusable sanitary packs (each pack contains 8 pads) will be given to 100 women at the end of the first cycle.
Why are these pads being created?
Provide jobs to vulnerable communities
100% of our skilled pad makers are women
Environmentally Sustainable - pads can be reused for up to 3 years saving around 792 disposable pads
Reduce Period Poverty - provide those in need with a long term solution to manage their periods
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The information below relates to distribution of dignity kits
Of the women we surveyed, 100% said they cannot afford the basic necessities needed to clean themselves, 33% said they resort to cutting up old clothes and 90% do not feel safe leaving the house at night to get water or go to the bathroom.
Sexual harassment, assault, and denial of resources are prevalent in the communities we serve due to a wide range of factors including trauma, sexual exploitation, and a lack of lighting (particularly around bathrooms). The economic crisis here in Lebanon has resulted in regular electricity blackouts which means lighting at night is almost non-existent.
Women have to walk in complete darkness to shared outdoor bathrooms, which is why we have included a solar-powered torch in the kit.
What does each kit contain?
Each kit costs $25 USD and contains the following items:
x1 torch powered by solar
x4 sanitary pad packs
x2 panty liner packs
x2 toothpaste tubes
x3 toothbrushes
x1 bucket
Why are there multiple items?
Women often give away items that have been donated to them to children or extended family members. We have included a number of each item to ensure that when a woman receives the kit she can benefit from the items herself as well.
Lebanon is currently experiencing one of the worst financial crises that the world has seen since the mid-1800s, made worse by the global pandemic and the 2020 Beirut explosion. In October 2019, 35% of Lebanon’s population lived below the poverty line. By March 2021 that figure was 78%.
Many women here in the Bekaa Valley can not afford essential hygiene items; since January 2021 the cost of hygiene items has increased by at least 500%.
94% of Syrian families in Bekaa are now living in extreme poverty, earning less than they need to meet their most basic physical needs.
With your support, we can ensure women in the Bekaa have access to these essential items.
Even 1 dollar makes a difference! Every contribution helps us support the women here in the Bekaa Valley. The more we raise, the more we can do.
Thank you for caring! Love, the Salam LADC team