Tibetan Plateau — China

Freedom pads for women of Tibet

Health, care and economic development

Beneficiaries — 8 entrepreneurs plus a few hundred women beneficiaries

More than 90% of Tibetan women have infections due to the lack of female hygiene. The first problem is education — women’s bodies do not have a good image and this is notably conveyed by the dominant monastic systems in the Tibetan regions. The second problem is access — nomadic women do not have access to much water for washing, nor clean materials such as toilet paper or sanitary napkins. In this context, The Pure Land Project created the “Moon Pads” brand of organic and biodegradable sanitary pads. The items are sold in China and the United States on a “buy one, give one” basis. For every box sold, Moon Pads donates a box to a Tibetan woman. This program is already working, with over 70,000 boxes sold and an awareness component conducted by a Tibetan woman doctor that aims to eliminate the stigma around menstruation in order to prevent disease. The project supported by Give a Hand intensifies awareness and finances the equipment and human resources of a sanitary napkin factory so that the items are produced locally and directly by Tibetan women.

Give a Hand and The Pureland Project Partnership

This is a first partnership experience between Give a Hand and The Pure Land Project. We are very pleased to intervene in the Tibetan region on a theme of great importance for the women of this region.

The Pure Land Project

The Pure Land Project (PLP) was founded in 2005 by Meg Ferrigno, when she moved to Tibet to serve Garchen Rinpoche’s school projects. PLP supports environmental and cultural sustainability through health, education and livelihoods as the foundation of the programs. The organization serves to give voice and support to the marginalized community and provide them with the capacity and resources to preserve Tibetan culture and traditions.

“I am working to eradicate menstrual precariousness without harming the planet.” Meg Ferrigno, founder

Pureland Project

Meg Ferrigno, director and founder of the nonprofit organization The Pureland Project, is very keen on environmental and sociopolitical issues of the country. The Pureland Project funds education at three schools in eastern Tibet that work to empower grassroots movements for environmental sustainability and community wellness. The schools funded by The Pureland Project preserves Tibetan culture by teaching the Tibetan language, the creation of local economies, and the improved access to technologies.

All projects — Pureland Project