The UK government’s recent short-sighted cuts to UK Aid have left the futures of girls in the Irise community and beyond hanging in the balance. Without support they face school dropout, child marriage and the loss of their dreams for the future.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced existing gender inequalities into crisis. The last decade of progress and investment in the lives of girls is at risk of being lost for good, along with the broader health and economic benefits of women’s empowerment.
Download our latest report and join us in our campaign to protect the futures of young women & girls.
Our disruptive model of social change dismantles the causes of period inequality through empowerment and evidence.
We're transforming the lives of people in the UK and East Africa through ending period poverty and shame.
We are an award winning, global leader in menstrual health programming, research, advocacy and policy development. Irise’s vision is a world where everyone can realise their potential, unlimited by their periods. We support young people and their communities in the UK and East Africa to overcome period related barriers through delivering practical programmes, undertaking innovative research and advocating for policy and practice change. We believe that when we are led by young women and informed by robust evidence, long lasting social change can be achieved.
With your help we can create a world where no one is held back by their period.
We're developing sustainable solutions in partnership with leading experts and communities most affected by period inequality.
We’re global experts in menstrual health. Over the last five years we’ve developed holistic, evidence based solutions to the challenges young people experience during their period in the UK and East Africa. We’ve worked in partnership with leading academics and policymakers to make menstruation matter. From free downloadable resources to tailored consultancy, we’re here to help make your menstrual health strategy, programme or policy effective and sustainable.
Get inspired by the latest work and achievements of Irise's network.
Hear from our network, partners and passionate people like you why Irise matters.
"Being able to support Irise has not only empowered myself and people that attend our events but also allowed me to help tackle a crises that can not simply be ignored.”
"Irise have always been as helpful as they are generous in sharing their substantial expertise to support the development of Dig Deep and our government partner’s Menstrual Hygiene Management programme in Kenya."
"From the start of my collaboration with Irise I have been impressed in that they do not just wish to help school girls but they wish to quantify the effect of what they do. This increases the impact of their work beyond the immediate girls who they assist and is a real strength of the charity."
"Irise are a world leader in menstrual health research and programming. Their integrity, evidence-based approach and genuine passion are the foundations of their work and I’m privileged to partner with them on a range of exciting projects."
"Irise is the first community I have been a part of where I have felt completely open talking about periods; the supportive culture has provided me with an important safe space to break down my own internalised menstrual stigma."
"I'm working with Irise to fight the stigma and taboo around periods because if people were more open to talking about periods when I was at school I wouldn't have been so worried! ”
"I did not want to be with my friends, I would sit alone, but since Irise came and taught us, I feel free, I be with my friends”
"After learning and understanding menstruation with Irise, all I wanted to do was to let people know that it is something to be proud of not to be ashamed."
"Using Irise International’s menstrual education material, we were able to speak with the community about menstruation. I was so happy to share this with them and to empower them to escape the fear and worry that used to come with every period.”
