Combating period poverty in rural Cambodia
Donation protected
Hello - and a big thank you for visiting our page.
Bopha School Project has been set up to help end period poverty for the young women of Siem Reap, Cambodia. We're a UK based group who have set the target to provide 5 rural Cambodian schools with:
1. Menstrual health education (for girls aged 11 - 18 as well as their mothers).
2. Reusable sanitary products (that will last up to 3 years).
3. Hygienic school facilities (a water purification tower and double latrine, allowing schoolgirls to comfortably - and confidently - attend school during their menstrual cycle).
What exactly is period poverty?
Period poverty impacts women and girls around the world who:
• Have little or no access to sanitary products
• Cannot afford safe, sanitary products
• Are unable to receive information about safe period practices due to cultural taboo.
• Face health risks related to poor period hygiene, for example, urinary tract infections and reproductive infections.
• Can not receive a proper education as many schools do not have the proper facilities to support menstruating girls. Girls avoid going to school during their bleed and then miss more school due to urinary infections.
Why Cambodia?
Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in South East Asia. The national poverty line is $0.93 per person, per day.
A pack of six sanitary pads costs around $3 and they are often difficult to find meaning that many girls cannot afford proper sanitary pads.
As of 2019, the poverty rate in Cambodia was 12.9%, however, this number is expected to rise to 20% due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving millions of girls and women vulnerable.
The Bopha School project aims to tackle these issues via:
EDUCATION
Within each school, we will deliver a two day educational programme that will be open to 45 students aged 11-18, as well as their mothers. Over the two days we will open a safe, engaging conversation with students about the menstrual cycle, helping to dismantle taboo and also share hygienic period practices.
PRODUCT
Bopha School Project will provide each schoolgirl attending the workshop with a Period Kit allowing individuals to practice good menstrual hygiene. The Period Kit will contain 5 reusable sanitary pads as well as a mesh laundry bag to discreetly dry their sanitary pads. The girls will also receive an upcycled backpack, upcycled from tyres and cement bags and stitched by Polio disabled tailors, so that they are able to take their sanitary products to and from school.
WATER
Of schools in Cambodia, 50% do not have a reliable, clean water supply and 33% of schools do not have latrines. This means that even if girls learn about sanitary period practices, it is difficult to maintain safe hygiene practices when schools do not have water or toilets. UNICEF has found that a lack of sanitation facilities can increase a girl’s likelihood to skip school during their period.
Bopha School Project will be providing a water purification tower and double latrines for each of the school we work with.
What will your donation go towards?
To provide 1 school with:
* 2 Day Menstrual Hygiene Workshop for 45 participants at a rural village school + 1 day community pre-engagement (2 facilitators and 1 translator) = £790
* Period Kits for 45 people (upcycled backpack, reusable sanitary pads and mesh drying bag) = £720
* Water purification tower and toilet (materials and labour) = £5,600
Total: £7,110
GRAND TOTAL (x 5 schools) = £35,550
We really hope that you feel inspired to support our project.
To find out more about us, our story and our team, please visit www.bophaschool.com
Thank you!
From Bopha School Project Team
Bopha School Project has been set up to help end period poverty for the young women of Siem Reap, Cambodia. We're a UK based group who have set the target to provide 5 rural Cambodian schools with:
1. Menstrual health education (for girls aged 11 - 18 as well as their mothers).
2. Reusable sanitary products (that will last up to 3 years).
3. Hygienic school facilities (a water purification tower and double latrine, allowing schoolgirls to comfortably - and confidently - attend school during their menstrual cycle).
What exactly is period poverty?
Period poverty impacts women and girls around the world who:
• Have little or no access to sanitary products
• Cannot afford safe, sanitary products
• Are unable to receive information about safe period practices due to cultural taboo.
• Face health risks related to poor period hygiene, for example, urinary tract infections and reproductive infections.
• Can not receive a proper education as many schools do not have the proper facilities to support menstruating girls. Girls avoid going to school during their bleed and then miss more school due to urinary infections.
Why Cambodia?
Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in South East Asia. The national poverty line is $0.93 per person, per day.
A pack of six sanitary pads costs around $3 and they are often difficult to find meaning that many girls cannot afford proper sanitary pads.
As of 2019, the poverty rate in Cambodia was 12.9%, however, this number is expected to rise to 20% due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving millions of girls and women vulnerable.
The Bopha School project aims to tackle these issues via:
EDUCATION
Within each school, we will deliver a two day educational programme that will be open to 45 students aged 11-18, as well as their mothers. Over the two days we will open a safe, engaging conversation with students about the menstrual cycle, helping to dismantle taboo and also share hygienic period practices.
PRODUCT
Bopha School Project will provide each schoolgirl attending the workshop with a Period Kit allowing individuals to practice good menstrual hygiene. The Period Kit will contain 5 reusable sanitary pads as well as a mesh laundry bag to discreetly dry their sanitary pads. The girls will also receive an upcycled backpack, upcycled from tyres and cement bags and stitched by Polio disabled tailors, so that they are able to take their sanitary products to and from school.
WATER
Of schools in Cambodia, 50% do not have a reliable, clean water supply and 33% of schools do not have latrines. This means that even if girls learn about sanitary period practices, it is difficult to maintain safe hygiene practices when schools do not have water or toilets. UNICEF has found that a lack of sanitation facilities can increase a girl’s likelihood to skip school during their period.
Bopha School Project will be providing a water purification tower and double latrines for each of the school we work with.
What will your donation go towards?
To provide 1 school with:
* 2 Day Menstrual Hygiene Workshop for 45 participants at a rural village school + 1 day community pre-engagement (2 facilitators and 1 translator) = £790
* Period Kits for 45 people (upcycled backpack, reusable sanitary pads and mesh drying bag) = £720
* Water purification tower and toilet (materials and labour) = £5,600
Total: £7,110
GRAND TOTAL (x 5 schools) = £35,550
We really hope that you feel inspired to support our project.
To find out more about us, our story and our team, please visit www.bophaschool.com
Thank you!
From Bopha School Project Team
Organizer
Bethan Christopher
Organizer
England
