Forced to miss up to a week of school each month, many adolescent girls face significant barriers to basic education because periods remain a highly stigmatised topic. In many communities, girls are unable to participate fully in village and home life simply because they lack access to affordable menstrual hygiene products, adequate care and understanding.

Through community screenings of Period. End of Sentence. and community sensitisation meetings that include male heads of household and broader community networks, our partner Steward's Trust challenges entrenched taboos and creates space for open, respectful conversations.

At the heart of the project is the installation of a sanitary pad–making machine in rural Uttar Pradesh. Delivered in partnership with local partners this initiative enables women to manufacture low-cost, high-quality menstrual products. Alongside production, women receive training in business skills, financial literacy, and micro-enterprise development ensuring the project is economically sustainable and locally owned.

The initiative also supports WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) improvements in local schools, ensuring access to private bathroom facilities and free menstrual products so girls can attend school consistently and live with dignity during their periods.

To date, two MHM projects have been successfully completed in different rural villages in Uttar Pradesh, demonstrating a model that strengthens local organisations, opens honest conversation about periods, and helps girls live without shame but with dignity, confidence, and choice.