Freedom pads for women of Tibet

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.