Breaking all taboos of ‘that time of the month’ for adolescent girls and boys in the remotest communities of UP

United for Hope is an international non-profit organisation which has been committed to transforming small villages in rural India into prosperous and dignified places, where communities thrive and individuals are empowered to make decisions about their future. Working in the rural pockets for several years, the team of United for Hope figured that in the rural context, the topic around menstruations is still surrounded by taboos, stigmas and myths. These often turn into barriers to access adequate knowledge, as they effectively prevent girls and women to question norms imposed on their bodies and lifestyles. If girls are reluctant to describe something that naturally happens to them, how can their experience of menstruation be comfortable, safe and dignified? How will they be able to buy sanitary pads in a shop, identify menstrual health issues or seek medical support?