Blog Post

Spotlight on Her Turn, Nepal

  • By Koyelia Sirkar
  • 27 Mar, 2016

Her Turn focuses on reaching adolescent girls in marginalised communities and helping to build their confidence and empower them. They work with communities where there is a high rate of child marriage, of female school dropouts and of child trafficking. 

Her Turn, are one of the first women empowerment organisations I came across in Nepal. Their focus is reaching adolescent girls in marginalised communities and helping to build their confidence and empower them. They work with communities where there is a high rate of child marriage, of female school dropouts and of child trafficking. 

I’m met outside a huge colourful Stupa in Chabahil, a bustling sub region of Kathmandu by Anita the newly appointed project coordinator. We head up a flight of stairs to the Her Turn office, 2 rooms and a small kitchen. “Is it OK, if we wait for the rest of the team so we can all speak together”. You can feel that the team are excited to get to share their story with me and set out chairs in squashed circle so we can all sit together. I meet 7 members of the team. Two administrators, two field coordinators and two master trainers alongside Anita. One of the master trainers Jantin is seen as the motherly figure in the office, she is slightly older than the other women who are mainly in their early twenties (I would guestimate) and has worked with Her-Turn since they started 3 years ago.

The Her-Turn programme is being rolled out in 8 VDCs (Village Development Committees) in Nepal, it is a tried and tested model which works on a 24 day (4 week) training course for girls making sure they include both those still in school and others who have dropped out. Each week has a different theme the first week is Safety, the second Health, the third, confidence building and the fourth Leadership skills. The course is taught by ‘trainers’ from the community, these are young women usually 19-21 years old who are selected to be role models for the younger girls who are between 12 and 16 years old. These trainers are trained by the master trainers in a 5 day training course on how to deliver the Her Turn course. They then deliver the course entirely independently, with weekly check-ins with the master trainers to ensure everything is going to plan. Another aspect as part of the 4 week workshop is a project where teams of girls are given 5000rs to invest in improving something in their community, this can be spent on a health or safety issue or used to help improve something in the school, the team decides exactly what they want it to go towards. The girls in the workshop also organise the closing ceremony to celebrate their progress on the course. 

After the initial workshop a trainer is selected to be a mentor for the girls, so there is a continued, sustained relationship and presence within the community. They set up a girl support committee with some of the girls who took part on the course. Each group meets regularly and they use this to discuss any issues which arise, they can also call emergency meetings to discuss acts of violence or proposed child marriage. The girls work together to find solutions and know they have the support of Her Turn should they need it (although usually they resolve the issues themselves from the training they have received).  

What I love about this model is how many different levels of empowerment there are. Not only are the staff of Her Turn young, inspiring, forward thinking, modern Nepali women who are proud to be Nepali women, but they work to empower two generations of young women, the trainers/mentors and the students on the workshop, who in turn empower and educate their community. They have thought carefully about ensuring there is a support network after they have left and the staff truly believe in what they are doing.

As part of the Health week on the course they teach about menstruation, they discuss restrictions and how girls should not feel they are “dirty or untouchable” during their period with a focus on what menstruation is and how they can take care of themselves. They provide ‘Dignity kits’ which include access to 4 pieces of red cotton (what is traditionally used as a sanitary pad in rural Nepal). One of the field coordinators, Radha said that she felt the work on menstruation was a key part of what they do. That at one of the closing ceremonies where parents, teachers and community members come together to celebrate the work of the girls, one of the girl’s parents said “we now understand that we do not have to be untouchable during menstruation, our daughters have taught us that”.

Her Turn are now starting to expand their programme to include focus on new areas including a programme specifically on Child Marriage, where they have asked both girls and boys what they think the issues are and what they want to know. They are designing a comic book and home to print 5000 copies to be distributed through schools soon.

They are also starting a new programme in Chumla, an area where Chaupaddi, the practice of isolation during menstruation, is still widely practiced and believe this will be a focus of their work.

It is great to meet so many inspiring young Nepalis doing great work in women empowerment. 

By Chloe Tingle 25 Feb, 2019
We are hosting two period poverty training courses this spring. See the details on eventbrite.
By Rebecca Batala 30 Jan, 2019
Here's a little insight into what our Staff Training at CoLab was like...
By Chloe Tingle 18 Oct, 2018

WOW Women of the World festivals have been popping up across the world, if you get the chance to go along to one we would strongly recommend it.

WOW – Women of the World  festival celebrates women and girls, and looks at the obstacles that stop them from achieving their potential.

Around the world, individuals and communities are insisting on the simple proposition that women and girls must have equal rights and asking the question: why is gender equality taking so long?

Southbank Centre's WOW – Women of the World  festival is a global network of festivals which provides a platform for celebrating what has been achieved, and exploring all the ways we can change the world for the better.

What’s not to love?

Our Founder, Chloe, and her Mum Angela went along to represent No More Taboo with a stall across the two days. Here’s her highlights:

“Although we didn’t get much time to take in all the discussions as we were kept busy wo-manning the stall (thanks Mum for helping out)! We had some great discussions around gender, equality, inclusivity and of course periods with new customers, supporters, other panellists and some old friends who came to see us.

In fact, we were really pleased to catch up with Plan International UK who were opening the festival with a discussion about Period Activism exactly one year on since the launch of our #BreaktheBarriers research and Period Poverty Conference that we ran in collaboration with Plan.

By Catherine Blom-Smith 01 Oct, 2018
We look at what introducing menstrual leave to workplaces in the UK might mean.
By Iloni Kingston-Smith 17 Sep, 2018

On the first weekend of September, No More Taboo set up shop at Lush Cribbs Causeway for their Charity Pot weekend.

The Lush Charity Pot is a wonderfully creamy shea-butter hand lotion where all the sales money (excluding VAT) goes towards a chosen charity or non-for-profit. This scheme is designed to help boost grass-roots, small and local organisations, like ourselves, financially so that we can continue to do the work we do such as our Tackling Period Poverty programme.

As we were Lush’s chosen organisation for the weekend of the 1-2 September, one of our volunteers, Iloni, and one of our advisors, Carolyn, went along to wo-man the (suitably Lush-styled aesthetic) stall that Lush had kindly provided for us. We took along a range of our products, stacks of leaflets and information as well as our enthusiasm for talking about all things to do with periods.

Over the weekend, we sold over £200’s worth of stock with Ruby Cups and Honour Your Flow re-usable pads proving most popular with Lush customers. On top of this, Lush sold so many of their Charity Pots that £340.60 was raised for No More Taboo – which was amazing! 

However exciting the money side of things were with this event, what I personally took away as being the real highlight of the weekend was the number and nature of conversations we shared with customers. 

Mothers and daughters came and chatted to us about how they agreed it was so important to use re-usable products for personal and financial reasons as well as for the planet’s sake. Boyfriends accompanied their other halves as they prodded and probed the range of menstrual cups on display. Older women commented on how it’s such a relief to be able to talk about menstruation in public and with people you’ve only just met. They regaled of a time when periods were even more hush-hush and celebrated with us out mission of there being No More Taboo.

We would like to thank Lush Cribbs Causeway for being such wonderful hosts, encouraging every customer that came through their doors to consider buying the Charity Pot or simply to chat with us. Each member of their staff team was incredibly warm and so keen to find out more about what we do. On behalf of all of us at No More Taboo, thank you.

By Catriona Dickie 26 Jul, 2018
What is a Mooncup?

If you're following No More Taboo, chances are you are already aware that a Mooncup is a silicone menstrual cup. It is inserted vaginally and used throughout your period. There are two different sizes: size A, for those who are either thirty and over or have given birth vaginally, and size B, for under thirties who have not birthed a child vaginally. 

Why Use One?

The main reason I wanted to convert to a Mooncup is because I was feeling concerned about the amount of waste my period was generating every month. During the twelve years I've been menstruating I must have thrown thousands of tampons into landfill , and as I became more aware of the impact this is having on the planet, switching to a sustainable sanitary product seemed like a straightforward lifestyle change that would really make a difference.

Another advantage for frugal (or rather, perpetually skint) me was that for a £20 upfront investment I'd have an item that would last up to 10 years. And while a box of own-brand tampons is only a pound a pop, there's always a risk that a trip to Boots will result in an impulse buy and before I know it I've bought a new nail varnish and a Graze box and end up spending a tenner.

I also love to travel and have more than once found myself in a situation where I'm in a country without ready access to tampons. I'm not a big fan of pads and had found myself obsessively carrying around a box of tampons with me at all times and becoming anxious when I didn't have one on me. The great thing about the Mooncup, for me, is that all you have to do is empty it out and with a quick rinse or wipe it can be used again.

Finally, Mooncups are not known to carry any risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, which I think we'll all agree is what nightmares are made of for those of us who menstruate. 

Putting it In

I was lucky enough to come on my period on a lazy Saturday afternoon. With no plans for the day that involved leaving the comfort of my home, I was able to fiddle around with folding and inserting and looking up advice online. After three failed attempts , the cup stayed put and I heard the satisfying sound of the vacuum seal closing in. Minimal leakage did occur over the course of the day but once I got the hang of the fold-and-insert method I was confident enough to wear my proverbial white jeans, like those women in the adverts who bleed blue menstrual blood.

Out and About

As I write this I've been using my Mooncup for about 6 months, and it did take me about 3 cycles to completely get used to it. I think after over a decade of using tampons, which are a lot smaller and more streamlined, this is probably normal. For me it was worth persevering and the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, of which I can't think of any aside from the following: I have dropped it down the loo while taking it out a couple of times. This has never been much of a problem until last weekend when I dropped it down a portaloo never to be seen again. So much for that 10 year investment.

Verdict

What can I say, I'm a convert. For anyone willing to spend £20 I'd really say its worth giving the Mooncup a chance and persevering with the tricky first days. As for me, I'll be buying another to replace my lost menstrual cup and will be using organic tampons at festivals from now on.  

Feeling Inspired?

Are you ready to give the Mooncup a chance? Buy your Mooncup, or another menstrual cup, from our shop , where all profits go towards tackling period poverty in the UK.

If you're wondering how else you can reduce your plastic consumption, read about how me and Catherine challenged ourselves to a plastic-free fortnight

By Catherine Blom-Smith 19 Jul, 2018
Watch this space for information on how No More Taboo will be involved in Big Green Week, UWE's annual festival of eco ideas, events and smart living. 

For more information, take a look at their website:  https://www1.uwe.ac.uk/whatson/biggreenweek.aspx
By Catherine Blom-Smith 19 Jul, 2018
A whole week of period-related and enviro-conscious action! What could be better? This event will run from the 13th of to the 20th of October. Watch this space for details on how No More Taboo will be involved. 

Read more here:  https://www.wen.org.uk/environmenstrual-week-of-action/
By Catherine Blom-Smith 19 Jul, 2018
At this year's Women of the World Festival, our founder Chloe will be holding a workshop at their event in Exeter. She will be talking everything you need to know about cups! This event is on Sunday 14th October. Find out more at this link:  https://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/women-of-the-world/
By Jenna Yates 19 Jul, 2018
Find out how we've been getting ready for the highlight of our summer, Shambala Festival, where we'll be helping you safely navigate the festival period... Jump on board for a period-friendly weekend trip away with the monthlies!
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