Dignified Menstruation is a comprehensive approach to
address complex and multifaceted menstrual discrimination. Therefore, we have
been trying to raise awareness through sports, celebration of menarche, and
birthday, religious and cultural days, using social media. In this connection,
GFG/RPF choose the Mehendi for dignified menstruation for celebrate Shrawan
month (July 15-August 15), a month of Mehendi.
Due to COVID pandemic, the discussion took place virtually.
Then, very limited friends gathered nearby along with their siblings and made
various types of arts and slogans. They used the smart mobile to take
photographs and uploaded through Facebook and Instagram. Once it went through social media, the members of
child club from other parts of country e.g. Udayapur started to follow and
shared via social media by tagging us.
Shrawan month is an important time for Nepali people; some
celebrate only for the first day of it, some celebrate for a month, some
celebrate for weddings, and some ignore it altogether.
We decided, given it’s diverse use, that we could use the practice of Mehendi as a transformative strategy to promote dignified menstruation. This allows girls and boys, and everyone else, to connect the brain and uterus and cherish the essence of menstruation for them and for this planet. Due to the creativity and enjoyment of the practice of Mehendi, this offers the benefit of connection and bonding which are important for dismantling the taboos, myths, restrictions, shyness, silence and isolation of menstrual discrimination in Nepal. Since this campaign is being promoted through social media and going viral! the message is reaching so many people who can enjoy it and benefit.
Once we started the campaign by disseminating the photos of Mehendi, with information or slogans about dignified menstruation, we received overwhelmingly positive feedback from friends across the networks. Other clubs and groups for children and youth in Nepal started to like, share and tag us. Usually, the information related was about `dignified menstruation’, ‘Gift for Girls’, ‘Menstrual Talk, Dignity First’, `Menstrual Health’, `girl empowerment’ and so on. We strongly believed that Mehendi is not only a ritual for fashion but also the tool for transform the menstrual discrimination. We would continue to amplify the voice of menstrual dignity and justice in coming days as well as an opportunity.
#MenstrualsTalksDignityfirst
#giftforgirls #GFGforchange
#DignifiedMenstruation
#dignifiedmenstruation2021
#mehendiwithdignifiedmenstruation
