Over the past few months, Naandi and the University of East London (UEL) have collaborated closely to design and launch a study on Dignity and Menstrual Health. To gather meaningful data, the team developed a survey to unveil how young girls perceive and experience their periods. With Naandi being connected to thousands of Indian girls and women through Project Nanhi Kali, it was decided that a group of 400 Nanhi Kalis were to be selected as the first recipients of this survey.
Each of these Nanhi Kalis, living near the historic city of Varanasi, gave their consent to take the survey and to answer a range of questions delving into various issues and concerns surrounding dignity and menstrual health. These questions examined what the young girls are told about the nature of their periods, whether they feel comfortable discussing menstruation openly at home, and if they perceive it as a normal, healthy process or something to feel ashamed of. Other questions addressed their comfort with daily activities during menstruation, their access to toilets and sanitation products, and more.
Once all 400 surveys were completed, an intensive workshop was held in Varanasi to review the findings for the first time. Key members of the Naandi-UEL collaboration gathered, including Rohini Mukherjee (Head of Global Partnerships), Radhika Yelkur (Head of Women’s Empowerment), and Meenakshi Roy (Head of Project Nanhi Kali) from Naandi, as well as Dr. Meera Tiwari and Abigail Lennox from the UEL. With a shared commitment to grasp the survey’s nuances and the voices of all 400 Nanhi Kalis, this passionate, multidisciplinary team put their heads together for the day and sifted through the survey data, examining both the prevalent and less common perspectives shared by the girls on sensitive issues surrounding menstruation.
With these valuable insights in hand, Naandi extends its heartfelt congratulations to the entire team for their dedication to this vital project. Special appreciation goes to the Skills Associates from Project Nanhi Kali, who conducted each survey in person with the 400 Nanhi Kalis, building trust and capturing the girls’ honest thoughts and experiences. And, of course, a sincere thank you to the Nanhi Kalis themselves, whose courage in sharing their personal perspectives will be treated with the utmost care and respect. The information this survey has gathered stands as a testament to the trust placed in us, and it strengthens Naandi’s commitment to preserving the confidence and dignity of young girls as our highest priority.
