Project Background
Addressing Menstrual Health in Guwahati, India
Near Guwahati, in the town of Pamohi, Parijat Academy was founded in 2003 by Uttam Teron and Aimoni Tumung to support children from underprivileged backgrounds. Starting with just four students, it now serves nearly 500, offering both formal education and programs like vocational training and menstrual health awareness.
In this region, many women and girls lack access to menstrual health education and products, contributing to school dropouts during puberty. Taboos and cost barriers further limit options.
According a National Family Health Survey (NFHS), just 48.5% of women in rural India use sanitary pads, compared to the national average of 57.6%. As a result, many rely on unhygienic alternatives, risking serious health issues.
Parijat Creates Community Success
Recognizing a need in their community, Aimoni and Uttam launched a project to produce reusable, eco-friendly sanitary napkins. Students and teachers receive training to make hygiene kits that include washable pads made of two parts: a leak-proof shield and a super-absorbent liner. The pads are affordable, quick-drying, and require minimal water to clean. Kits also include soap, towels, and menstrual health information.
Since 2020, support from WECO has enabled 8 students and 4 teachers at Parijat to produce around 10,000 sanitary pads for over 2,000 women in 7 nearby villages.
In 2022, WECO also launched an income-generating program for local women weavers. Artisans are paid upfront, provided with materials, and earn double their families’ average income. Proceeds support education and community initiatives.
If you’d like to learn more about Parijat and their sanitary pad project, please visit the WECO Facebook page or Parijat website.
Child Protection and Empowerment in Delhi, India
TARA India combats child exploitation in communities experiencing extreme poverty in Delhi. Launched in 2008, their multidisciplinary and devoted team provides residential programs for 70 children in need of care and protection with their TARA Boys, TARA Girls, TARA Tots, and TARA Big Birds programs. Over time, they have evolved their individualized residential care programs to include preventative efforts to strengthen and keep families together, offering an alternative to the systematic institutionalization of children in India. The TARA Outreach Center aims to strengthen vulnerable families and prevent their children from ending up in institutional care. Established in 2019, it provides classes for over 100 children to supplement their government schooling along with skilled social work support for families experiencing challenges such as substance misuse or domestic violence.
TARA has adopted a two-pronged approach to child protection: response services for the most extreme cases, and preventative services to address root causes and break harmful cycles. The team works closely with relevant institutions to ensure proper care and developed a Training Center to provide workshops on best practices for child protection and childcare in India.
If you’d like to learn more about TARA India and their child protection programs, please visit the TARA website, or the WECO Facebook page for project updates.
