On May 28th, 2020 in celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Day, members of the Empowering Our Women St Lucia Organization coordinated a Menstrual Hygiene Donation Drive, which focused on the collection and distribution of menstrual hygiene and sanitary products.
hygiene kits.
The goal of the women and youth empowerment organization was to provide menstrual hygiene packages to vulnerable young women between the ages of 12-19, who attend the Upton Garden Girls Centre, as well as those who reside at the New Beginnings Transit Home. Collectively, a total of 21 packages were distributed.
President and Co-founder of the Empowering Our Women St Lucia organization, Tara Moses, stated that, “Given the current Covid-19 pandemic, it was critical to acknowledge the need for proper menstrual hygiene necessities predominantly among young vulnerable women who may not have the resources to acquire feminine hygiene products.”
She added, “Our goal is to raise awareness for women’s reproductive health and rights, as well as period poverty among young women in St Lucia and the Caribbean holistically. Furthermore, it is important to help support an environment in which every woman and girl is empowered to manage her menstruation safely, hygienically, with confidence and without shame… where no woman or girl is limited by something as natural and normal as her period. This is a health epidemic that significantly impacts women, and we do believe that there is a negative stigma around it, where there is lack of education and support.”
On behalf of the Upton Garden Girls Center and the New beginnings Transit Home, Jacqueline Massiah-Simeon and Bernice Francis who received the feminine hygiene packages expressed gratitude to the organization for their efforts.