SVIMS arranged for a workshop on cloth pad making at two schools in Undri and Pisoli area. The names of the schools are as follows:

• Bloomfield House of Knowledge School,

Raj Vihar Society, Sr. No – 50/2/1, Jagadamba Bhawan Road, opposite Sunshine Hills, Undri, Pune, Maharashtra 411060

• Mahatma Jyotirao Phule High School,

Yewalewadi, Shree Siddhivinayak Meera, Pisoli, Pune, Maharashtra 411048

The workshop was planned with a view to create awareness about adolescent menstrual hygiene. Prof Sonali Joshi spoke to the young girls about periods, menstrual hygiene and the ways to keep themselves healthy and active during 5 days. As the girls were from standard 5th to 10th standard, a few of them were aware about periods and some of them didn’t know. What was more surprising was that this was not even discussed at their homes; their mothers hadn’t yet informed or shared with them about this natural phenomenon.The SVIMS faculty and the students shared their experiences to reiterate:

Periods are nothing to be scared of

Periods are nothing to be ashamed of

Ms. Pratiksha Punekar, along with two trained ladies Mrs. Priyanka Nanaware and Mrs Ratna Bala Bhairat (from Kamakhya NGO), started with the workshop of making cloth pads.

The material required for the workshop was shared with the schools two days in advance so that the girls were ready for the workshop. The material required was Paper and pen, Scissor, Old towel, Old Cotton cloth, Needle and thread and Buttons.

SVIMS girls, alongwith Didis, helped the young students to make the cloth pads. The girls were all full of smiles by the end of the workshop.

As both the schools were Co-Ed, Ms. Asawari Nawale conducted Arts session for the boys while the workshop for girls was in progress.

Once the pad making workshop was over, all the students were then brought together for a dance session by Ms. Namrata Nagpal. The SVIMS Faculty and students were felicitated at both the schools and were thanked by the authorities for conducting the workshop. They also extended their invitation to the team for conducting such workshops in future too. The day had been a fruitful one, giving a sense of achievement and satisfaction. It also made us  realize that there are still places and pockets where talking about menstrual hygiene, periods, is still cringed upon. When asked “how many girls have their periods”, there were many who lowered their heads while raising their hands. They were asked to hold their heads high as this is a blessing of Lord Almighty given to women.