Our PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
Education. Advocacy. Community. Action.
The Sustainable Female Hygiene Initiative is our flagship programme, operating at the intersection of women's health, sustainability, and social equity. We address the full picture of female hygiene, not just one dimension of it.
Menstrual Hygiene
Menstrual hygiene remains one of the most underfunded and stigmatised dimensions of female health globally. Our programme addresses this through a three-part model:
Education & Awareness
- Community-based workshops covering menstrual health, safe product use, and cycle literacy
- School outreach targeting adolescent girls with age-appropriate, science-backed curriculum
- Dismantling menstrual taboos through community dialogue and culturally grounded messaging
Sustainable Product Access
- Promoting and facilitating access to reusable, low-waste menstrual products (menstrual cups, reusable pads, period underwear)
- Piloting product distribution models in low-income and peri-urban communities
- Partnering with manufacturers and distributors aligned with our health and sustainability standards
Waste & Environmental Advocacy
- Mapping menstrual product waste streams in target communities
- Advocating for municipal and national policies that address menstrual waste as an environmental concern
- Building the evidence base for policy engagement through data collection and partnerships
Female Hygiene & Intimate Health
Beyond menstruation, women's daily hygiene practices carry significant but under-examined health implications. Harsh soaps, douching, fragranced products, and synthetic materials expose the intimate microbiome to unnecessary risk. This programme addresses the full spectrum of female hygiene:
Intimate Health Literacy
- Education on the vaginal microbiome, pH balance, and the risks of over-cleansing or chemical exposure
- Challenging harmful hygiene myths perpetuated by marketing and cultural practice
- Training community health workers and educators to confidently discuss intimate hygiene
Safe Product Guidance
- Developing frameworks to assess female hygiene products against health and sustainability criteria
- Providing evidence-based guidance to help women navigate an often misleading product landscape
- Supporting the development of products and practices that are safe for body and environment
Research & Evidence Building
- Collaborating with health professionals to document the real-world health impacts of common hygiene products and practices
- Publishing accessible research summaries and briefing notes for practitioners, policymakers, and communities