Context
In rural India, women and families often face limited access to basic facilities needed to lead a life of dignity. Rural India is plagued by a multitude of health issues such as rampant cases of anemia, vision impairedness, diabetes, and cervical cancer: all treatable diseases that become deadly due to a lack of access to healthcare facilities, lack of awareness regarding symptoms and treatment of even treatable diseases, lack of awareness regarding how to maintain health and hygiene, specifically menstrual hygiene, and further lack of access to hygienic period products and accurate information about one’s menstrual cycle. In addition, rampant stigma and taboo that views menstruation as “dirty” and “shameful” leads to startling realities such as high rates of school absenteeism, and adversely affects educational, livelihood, and health outcomes.
Furthermore, rural communities are plagued by overreliance on low-paying employment in the agriculture sector, which compounds health risks for rural women, and robs them of financial independence, skill development, and dignity.
Overdependence of rural communities on fossil fuels and traditional sources of energy such as coal further also exposes children and vulnerable rural women to a host of health risks, respiratory diseases, and pregnancy complications.
As a result of these factors, rural India requires trusted community channels that can bring these key health, livelihood, menstrual equity, and climate resilience services and resources directly to them in the form of capacity enhancement and cultivation of dignity in rural communities, so that they feel true ownership of such channels and can operate them independently, thereby ensuring that they’re sustained.
Goals
Supporting women’s health across rural India by:
- Increasing access to preventative health screenings, early identification of priority health risks, basic consultations, and basic understanding of nutrition and hygiene for underserved rural communities.
- Diversifying the number of financially viable livelihood paths available to rural women by helping them upskill via vocational and technical skill development.
- Reinforcing positive behaviors through community education on a variety of stigmatized topics (women’s health, hygiene, menstrual health, adolescent health).
- Reducing barriers to menstrual health by expanding access to products and accurate information, countering school absenteeism rates.
- Building climate resilience in rural communities by training women to work in the renewable energy sector, thereby enabling them to participate in India’s growing green economy.
In the following states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha.
Activities
- Community health camps: organize periodic village-based camps offering a multitude of health screenings, immunizations, basic consultations, and testing.
- Health education sessions: deliver structured, culturally relevant education for women, children, and community health facilitators on hygiene, nutrition, menstrual health, and hygiene.
- Menstrual health access: Distribute menstrual products alongside accurate menstrual health education in schools and communities to reduce stigma and health risks;
- Support girls with practical resources that enable school attendance.
- Organize vocational and technical skill development trainings for women such as beautician, sewing, computer literacy, and entrepreneurship training to empower them to attain financial independence, gain meaningful employment, and start their own micro-enterprises.
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- ©Desai Foundation
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- ©Desai Foundation
Key Performance Indicators
- Greater awareness and understanding of health conditions, risks, symptoms, and next steps needed to safeguard one’s health;
- Improved positive behavior and attitude towards menstrual health and hygiene;
- Improved entrepreneurial mindset and diversification of rural women workforce which can enable women to attain financial independence and support their families.
Myriad Canada is working with the Desai Foundation on this project, a US and Indian nonprofit whose mission is to improve health, livelihood, and menstrual equity outcomes for underserved rural populations in India, particularly women, and children, via enhanced access to key health facilities, and health education; vocational and technical skill development; enhanced climate resilience; and improved access to high-quality, low-cost period products (Asani Sanitary Napkins) and accurate menstrual health education.
Myriad Canada’s role is to carry out charitable activities across the globe in accordance with its charitable purposes. We control and monitor the use of funds and the progress of charitable activities to ensure that donations made to Myriad Canada have the greatest impact in accordance with donors’ expressed wishes. As a member of the Myriad Alliance with offices in Canada, the US, Europe, Asia and Australia, Myriad Canada has a vast international network and extensive practical expertise.
How to support this project?
By credit card: At the top right of this page, indicate the amount you wish to donate, and make the donation online by credit card. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes by e-mail just a few minutes after making the donation. It is simple and quick!
By cheque:
- Make your cheque out to Myriad Canada.
- IMPORTANT NOTE: We receive a lot of cheques! You must please indicate “Project D516 – Support Women’s Health in India” in the memo line of your cheque to ensure that it is allocated correctly.
- Mail your cheque to: Myriad Canada, 1 Place Ville Marie, Suite 1670, Montreal, QC, H3B 2B6, Canada.
By Direct Deposit:
- For transfer instructions, please email or call Caroline Chaulet: caroline@myriadcanada.org or +1 438 300 8122.
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