IRFF UK

A Period Poverty Charity

IRFF UK is a period poverty charity that recognises the critical importance of addressing period poverty due to its profound impact on individuals' health, well-being, and dignity. IRFF UK believes that access to menstrual hygiene products is a fundamental human right. Period poverty not only exacerbates gender inequality but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and exclusion. By addressing this issue, the charity IRFF UK aims to empower individuals, particularly women and girls, to overcome barriers to education, employment, and social participation.

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South Africa School girls receiving period pads

How Can Period Poverty Be Tackled?

What solutions or interventions are available to address period poverty?

Providing complimentary or discounted menstrual products to individuals facing financial challenges.

Conducting educational initiatives on menstrual hygiene and health.

Supporting policy reforms, such as abolishing the "tampon tax."

Empowering women and marginalised communities through economic opportunities and education.

Conducting Research & Data

What research and data did IRFF UK Conduct To address period poverty?

In July 2022, IRFF UK embarked on a crucial exploration into the issue of period poverty, recognising its significance for the 500 million girls and women worldwide affected by it. Our organisation aimed to launch two or three projects across different nations starting in January 2023.

Learning From UNICEF

Drawing upon the foundational insights provided by the March 2019 UNICEF publication "Guidance on menstrual health and hygiene," IRFF UK gained essential knowledge on how to effectively execute period poverty projects.

The Four Key Areas To Solving Period Poverty

This guidance delineates a core Menstrual Health & Hygiene intervention package encompassing four key areas, or 'pillars,' for programming: social support, knowledge and skills, facilities and services, and materials.

Pillar 1

Social Support

Pillar 2

Support & Skills

Pillar 3

Facilities & Services

Pillar 4

Materials

In 2023 IRFF UK Started It’s Period Poverty Projects in Africa

Where IRFF UK Started Our Projects For Period Poverty

IRFF UK Started Period Poverty Projects In 3 Nations

Ghana

South Africa

Uganda

With a limited budget for 2023, IRFF UK approached three potential country partners – WAIT Ghana, Walmer Angels South Africa, and WAIT Uganda – to gauge their interest and capacities in addressing period poverty. While all three partners demonstrated the ability to address three of the four programming pillars, IRFF UK focused solely on the areas of social support, knowledge and skills, and materials.However, "facilities and services" were left to be managed locally by the schools or villages served.

Severe Implications Of Improvised Hygiene Products

How Can Individuals and Businesses Actively Contribute To Ending Period Poverty?

Individuals and businesses can play crucial roles in actively addressing and ending period poverty through sustainable and effective measures.

Individuals

Donate and Volunteer: Contribute to charities and organisations focused on menstrual health. Volunteer your time to support initiatives addressing period poverty or donate to period poverty.

Advocate for Change: Raise awareness about period poverty, engage in conversations, and advocate for policy changes at local and national levels. Participate in campaigns aimed at destigmatising menstruation.

Businesses

Workplace Support: Provide free or subsidised menstrual products in workplace restrooms. Create a supportive environment that promotes open discussions about menstrual health.

Charitable Initiatives: Support and collaborate with NGOs and charities working to address period poverty through financial contributions, product donations, or partnerships. Learn more about us and our charity for Africa

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Incorporate initiatives related to menstrual health and hygiene into corporate social responsibility programs.

Community Engagement

Community-Led Initiatives: Encourage and support grassroots initiatives within communities that address specific challenges related to period poverty.

Local Partnerships: Foster partnerships between local businesses, nonprofits, and community organisations to create sustainable solutions tailored to the needs of the community.

Research and Data Collection

Support Research: Invest in and support research on menstrual health and period poverty to better understand the specific needs of different communities and populations.

Data-Driven Policies: Use collected data to inform evidence-based policies and interventions that effectively address period poverty.

Making A Difference To Period Poverty

What Projects Does Our Period Poverty Charity Do?

South Africa

Walmer Angels

Distributing pads to 170 school girls

In Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Walmer Angels operates several programs for the local Walmer Community, including literacy initiatives and soup kitchens. With a robust partnership with Walmer Primary School, the organisation is well-positioned to coordinate the distribution of disposable pads to 170 schoolgirls on a consistent basis.

This effort would be supported by trained medical professionals or nurses and teachers, ensuring the delivery of menstrual health and hygiene education alongside the pad distribution. Unlike reusable pads, which may be distributed to different individuals over time, this approach ensures continuity for the same group of girls, facilitating ongoing support and education.

Ghana

Period Poverty Project

Producing Cheap Reusable Pads

Thanks to previous projects with Ghana, IRFF UK has established a strong foundation to implement a Period Poverty programme created by IRFF UK. IRFF UK enabled the Ghana team to produce reusable pads at a fraction of the cost of commercially available ones. Ultimately, in collaboration with trained medical professionals and local village management, WAIT Ghana distributed reusable pads to 570 girls and women in 2023, complemented by education on menstrual health and hygiene.

Girls Have Stopped Skipping School

In Ghana, the provision of pads to girls has resulted in a significant reduction in absenteeism, as they no longer miss up to five days of schooling each month. Additionally, these girls have gained a better understanding of their bodies and have been equipped with knowledge on what is period poverty and the knowledge needed to have good menstrual hygiene.

Learn more about the important of charity work in Africa to keep girls in education and have the best chance at a brighter future.

Uganda

Destiny Junior School

Disposable Pads Supplied To School Girls

IRFF UK built a school in Uganda in 2009. The school is called Destiny Junior School. The Headmistress, Jesca identified a cohort of 30 girls from Destiny School and an additional 150 girls from a neighbouring school.

Together with Jesca, IRFF UK organised the distribution of disposable pads to 180 schoolgirls on a regular basis, supplemented by comprehensive menstrual health and hygiene education sessions facilitated by trained medical professionals and teachers.

“The Period programs in these vulnerable groups of the poor community in Uganda gives the young children hope for the future. We continue to register a positive mind-set change and attitude towards better health and good sanitary issues with provision of the pads. The confidence and self-esteem of the young girls is improving and attendance and concentration in school has improved. There is a need to have regular visits to these schools and ongoing talks to achieve a complete mind-set change and self-esteem build in the children”

Jesca

Headmistress, Destiny Junior School

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Empowering Communities
and Changing Lives

Charity Number: 281776

98 Dyke Drive, Orpington, BR5 4LZ