NPR.org recently posted a story about the practice of banishing girls from everyday life activities (in some cases, from the very homes they live in) while they a going through their period. From Nepal to Kathmandu, these practices come from age old religious beliefs based on the idea that any female menstruating is, in essence, untouchable.
As part of our mission, we’ve incorporated facilities to provide women and girls with supplies as well as a safe and private space for them to care for themselves with dignity. We also work with groups that are helping elevate women and girls in society in the hopes that these cruel societal practices no longer occur. The tide is turning (albeit slowly) as more and more of the global population is getting educated and enlightened on menstruation and its purely natural occurrence.
The story above is definitely a sobering reminder though that, for all of the progress we’ve made, we still have a ways to go.