Organized by: Inspire Youth Nepal

Project Overview:

Inspire Youth Nepal has always initiated a bold and compassionate program considering the empowerment necessity for the women through the equal job opportunities and dignity against the period poverty. We have made the serious and direct social protest element against the government imposing the price hikes on sanitary pads. In response, IYN conducted the free sanitary pad distribution campaign as a protest for the unsatisfying act of the government. Our main aim is to uplift the underprivileged and working-class women. Empowerment with advocacy and fight against the period poverty that is directly impacting the confidence and daily lifestyle of these future superstars.

Women across Nepal, particularly in the low income and rural communities’ area, they only not face the unemployment problem somehow the barriers in basic menstrual hygiene due to the unaffordable sanitary pads. The disproportionate unjust policies are affecting the women economically and we stand against the government unjust policies regarding this.

In response to the government imposing price hike on sanitary pads, IYN launched the dual-purpose initiative. Our main aim is to empower women economically through job training and placement. Meanwhile, protesting policies that worsen period poverty in Nepal. The act of the government was condemnable and IYN stood strong against it.

IYN is dedicated in organizing the grassroots level campaigns advocating for menstrual dignity and affordability. Meanwhile, we also launch the seminars, workshops and boot camps along with the training program to make the women independent and self-reliable.

Purpose of the Project:

✅ To empower women from the low income and vulnerable backgrounds by providing them the reliable job opportunity and self-employment through training

✅ To protest the government’s price hike on sanitary pads which directly impacted millions of girls all over Nepal.

✅To raise awareness and public pressure against gender-insensitive economic policies.

✅ To enable women to earn enough to afford basic hygiene and dignity, including menstrual health products.

✅ To create long-term change by fostering financial independence and enabling women to participate in policy discussions.

Key Messages:

✅ Menstruation is not a luxury. It’s a natural right.

✅ Empowerment means access to income, hygiene, and dignity.

✅ Price hikes on sanitary pads are a form of systemic injustice.

✅ We empower women, we protest inequality.

Target Beneficiaries:

✅ Low-income women in urban slums and rural areas along with informal settlements

✅ Women unable to afford basic hygiene products

✅ Economically marginalized women and single mothers

✅ Women affected by domestic violence or displacement

✅ Adolescent girls in schools where sanitary pads are unaffordable

✅ Young female dropouts due to financial or menstrual health barriers

Project Activities:

1. Vocational & Job Training:

Free training sessions in:

✅ Tailoring (including pad production using cloth)

✅ Local product manufacturing

✅ Office and digital literacy

✅ Local food production and packaging

✅ Online small business management (Medical mask production)

IYN conducted this campaign in partnership with community halls, training centers, and local cooperatives.

2. Economic Empowerment & Employment:

✅ Placement of trained women in jobs at local businesses.

✅ Support for micro-businesses started by women (with seed kits and training).

✅ Special focus on sustainable pad production and sale by trained women entrepreneurs.

3. Awareness & Protest Actions:

✅ Public campaigns using slogans, street drama, and posters to:

✅ Condemn the price hike on sanitary pads

✅ Advocate for tax-free and subsidized menstrual hygiene products

✅ Distribution of free reusable cloth pads made by women trained in our program

Protest Campaign Against Price Hike:

Awareness rallies in:

• Basantapur Durbar Square
• Maitighar Mandala
• Ratnapark

Women carried placards reading:

“Periods are not a luxury!”

“Tax-free pads = Human dignity”

“Don’t price out our hygiene”

✅ Public Street dramas depicting struggles of poor women and girls

✅Distribution of 500+ free reusable pads during rallies and training sessions

✅ Social media campaigns with hashtags like:

#PeriodPovertyIsReal

#TaxFreePadsNepal

#DignityNotLuxury

#EmpowerHer

4. Collaboration & Advocacy:

✅ Partnering with women’s rights organizations, local activists, and health professionals

✅ Submitting petitions to local government representatives

✅ Engaging with schools and colleges for awareness events

Impact Highlights:

✅ 150+ women trained and employed in the first phase

✅ 500+ reusable pads produced and distributed to rural schools and slum communities

✅ Raised awareness among over 5,000 community members and youth

✅ Created 10 new women-led micro-enterprises that sell hygiene products and crafts

Public protest organized in Basantapur, Maitighar Mandala and Ratnapark with participation from youth, activists, and female leaders

Conclusion:

The foremost part of the women empowerment is to restore the dignity, breaking taboos and challenging policies that hurt the most for them in a vulnerable way. We literally want women to earn, lead and resist against the unjust action from any organization or from the government level.

Inspire Youth Nepal has always stood firmly against the price hike of sanitary pads and call for the immediate government action to reduce the price and implement the following initiative to build the confidence in women.

✅ Make sanitary pads affordable or free

✅ Remove all taxation on menstrual hygiene products

✅Support women-led pad production businesses with grants and subsidies

Next Steps:

Expand training and awareness campaigns in different parts of Nepal

Partner with municipalities to make reusable pads a school kit item

Submit a national-level petition to Parliament

Launch a mobile “Menstrual Dignity Van” to serve rural villages