WASH UNITED | Viega Foundation

WASH UNITED:

EDUCATION AGAINST STIGMATISATION.

INDIA | STATUS: CURRENT

WASH has many facets. The aspect of menstrual hygiene is still far too little at the centre of interest. There are several reasons for this. One of the most important is that the topic is highly taboo in many regions of the world. An important lever for change therefore lies in awareness-raising and education programmes.

WASH United recognised this challenge years ago. In 2014, the organisation launched the annual Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May. Every year thousands of people and organisations use the day to campaign for the issue in social media, media reports and events.

With the ‘Ruby's World’ education programme, WASH United wants to build on this success, target girls in India and remove the taboo surrounding menstruation.

Left: The “Ruby's World” project is committed to removing the taboo surrounding menstrual hygiene.

WASH UNITED:

EDUCATION AGAINST STIGMATISATION.

WASH United was founded in 2011 as a non-profit limited company. As a unique hybrid of lobby NGO and creative agency, the organisation focuses on the challenges in the areas of drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

WASH United combines development policy expertise with creative talent to generate the greatest possible impact – particularly through campaigning and educational work with a thematic focus on menstrual hygiene.

Left: The “Ruby's World” project is committed to removing the taboo surrounding menstrual hygiene.

WASH UNITED:

EDUCATION AGAINST STIGMATISATION.

In India, menstruation is a strong taboo in many areas. This often has far-reaching consequences for girls. They are usually not sufficiently informed about the biology of their bodies and are therefore not only exposed to health risks – they are also often absent from school or drop out of school completely.

Left: The “Ruby's World” project is committed to removing the taboo surrounding menstrual hygiene.

WASH UNITED:

EDUCATION AGAINST STIGMATISATION.

With the help of the ‘Ruby's World’ menstruation programme, at least 550,000 girls are to be educated about menstruation in cooperation with partner organisations.

A workshop, which is part of the programme, imparts important knowledge and strengthens the self-confidence of the girls, who can experience themselves as a strong female community through the programme.

In addition, a dedicated website is programmed, which makes the “Ruby’s World” workshop openly available for any organisation.

Another project component is extensive campaign work for Menstrual Hygiene Day. Together with local organisations, the aim is to bring the topic to the attention of Indian society at large and thus break down taboos and stigmas.

Left: The “Ruby's World” project is committed to removing the taboo surrounding menstrual hygiene.

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WASH UNITED:

EDUCATION AGAINST STIGMATISATION.

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