Three Students for Nepal
Keeping children in school with gift of education in remote village
We are very excited to share this life changing stories by three high school students- Carter Bedford, Jasmine Coffeng and India McDonald from Hongkong Academy who put together fund raiser and raised over $7000 to support over one hundred students in remote village in Solukhumbu in Everest region with gift of school bags and winter warm jackets. And they also prepared themselves over 400 washable menstrual pads for young Nepali girls. Those pads were taken to remote Himalayan district Solukhumbhu and were distributed to the young girls. Each menstrual kit contained 8pads, a soap and a leaflet about menstrual hygiene.
Over 400 washable menstrual pads distributed to young Nepali girls in Solukhumbu
The Nepalese under privilege students were very happy having gift of school bags and winter warm jacket from three high school students from Hong Kong. We found this project very inspiring helping by the students for the students. Off course its very important gift to them but more then that students were inspired and deeply started thinking how they can also help other students to educate the world. It’s truly lesson learning program transferring gift with many ideas, inspiration & empowerment.
Nepal is a country where talking about periods is still consider as taboo. In many places a system called Chhaupadi exists. Chhaupadi is a form of menstrual taboo which prohibits women and girls from participating in normal family activities while menstruating, as they are considered “impure”(wikipedia). Every year Nepal’s Chhaupadi system kills hundreds of women. Whether it be wild animal attacking the Chhaupadi hut or raped in hut, suffocation or winter chill the news even made many times in NY Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/09/world/asia/nepal-menstruation-taboo.html
This particular mission will benefit the girls in two major ways.
1. They will have clean healthy menstrual hygiene kit to last for over a year and will prevent them from menstrual hygiene related health issues.
2. On the other hand, they will not have to miss 4-5 days of school every month because they can easily carry the pads to school and use them while going to school during period.
With the help of three students, we distributed over 400 pads to 60 orphanage & vulnerable. Girls. Rita Rai who received said this is her very first menstrual kit otherwise she would used rugs and old clothes. Now she is comfortable, confident and safe during her period. Samjana Gurung said this gift been really helpful for her since she does not have money to buy sanitary pads. She is very happy that these pads are reusable and will last for long time. This program was also share through the local radio station with Menstrual Hygiene education and we also broadcasted some of girl’s experience and many women from local are requested us for these kits.
The Small World started working for Menstrual awareness and education since 2018 and have reached many villages and worked with young school girls, mother’s group and community leader to bring change on this practice.
We are very thankful to three wonderful students from Hong Kong Academy who were touched by this issue and decided to put together their help. Carter Bedford Jasmine Coffeng and India McDonald
