Awareness is Key to Overcoming Period Poverty among Young People

As a teacher involved in several initiatives to overcome period poverty undertaken in schools, Mrs Buddhimathi Hettiarachchi a Teacher with Sir John Kotelawala Maha Vidyalaya in Piliyandala says that awareness and education is key to overcoming period poverty in Sri Lanka.

Period poverty is still a big problem in Sri Lanka. Many girls do not have access to sanitary products or proper information about what happens to their bodies during menstruation. Because of this, they often feel shame, confusion, and fear.

Having worked extensively with young students in shaping their worldview, she says that many of them have no understanding of how the human body works and menstruation. Even mothers lack adequate awareness to update their daughters and sons about these processes – hence, it is a neglected subject that has created social stigma and ignorance among the community.

While at school teachers try to generate the awareness the children need to understand the importance of overcoming period poverty, much remains to be done to take these initiatives further. That’s where Fems Sri Lanka and Her Foundation has stepped in to expand the level of awareness among communities across Sri Lanka.

“Among communities that are financially challenged, we as teachers find that school girls having to skip school attendance on days when they have their period, a challenging issue.  It is one that causes severe distress mentally as well, among these communities. It disturbs the mental well- being of the young girls and makes them feel that menstruation is some sort of a sickness when it is not so.”

“ We as teachers continue to educate the young girls on the importance of following proper hygienic procedures during this time. It is also enabling them to connect with their bodies and understanding the normal procedures the human female body undergoes.” She adds.

She points out that when such awareness is created, it becomes easier for young girls to manage their studies effectively while also understanding menstruation as a normal, everyday function of the body.

Mrs Hettiarachchi reiterates that while students are being updated, it is also important to update the mothers ; “ particularly young girls in the 10-14 age group would benefit from learning to understand the importance of hygiene and physical wellbeing as they start menstruating.”

As a teacher who has worked with many students over the years, having taken part in school programmes that encourage greater dialogue on overcoming period poverty, she says in conclusion that understanding and responding to the mental and physical challenges faced by young girls during menstruation is critical. This includes understanding the importance of providing counselling to school children in Sri Lanka as well.

In the end, she says that solving period poverty requires many steps. It is not just about giving out sanitary napkins. It is about changing how people think and talking about menstruation. It is about making sure girls understand their bodies and feel proud, not ashamed. It is about helping mothers support their daughters. And it is about making sure that no girl must miss school or feel alone just because she has her period.

By working together teachers, parents, communities, and organizations Sri Lanka can make sure that every girl knows her body is normal and healthy, that she deserves respect, and that she can go to school with confidence every day of the month.

Awareness