Buddy Up so all women and girls can menstruate with dignity.

Irise International is all about women and girls around the world coming together to create a better future.

We spoke to our long term Irise buddy Caroline, and two school girls, Winnie and Ruth, benefiting from supporters like Caroline.

Caroline was first inspired to help after realising how girls like Winnie and Ruth were struggling to manage their periods without the right support. She remembered how shaken she felt when she first started her periods and how she took access to sanitary pads for granted.

When Caroline imagined young girls struggling in silence she realised that pads and education should be available to all women and girls.

Winnie and Ruth both recently received reusable pads and menstrual health education through Irise International. We spoke to them about why this support is important for all girls.

Ruth told us that before the session she had heard people talking about menstruation but they had chased her away because they thought she was too young to be involved. She remembered, “I was told that if I start menstruating, I should be scared, I should not approach a boy.”

She was reassured by the session  “if I’m menstruating I shouldn’t be worried because it is normal. I should be comfortable and play without being scared.” 

Both girls agreed that all girls need access to the information they just received and to pads. Winnie adds that she would like to tell other girls “that her periods are normal and they do not last forever”.

This Menstrual Hygiene Day we’re launching our new Period Buddy Scheme enabling you to support the girls like Winnie and Ruth.

Through matching what you spend on sanitary products every month in donations to Irise you can join Caroline and empower girls with pads and information about their periods.

Donate and become a Period Buddy Today!