Empowering Girls in Sport Through Menstrual Health
We build safe spaces where female athletes can train, learn, and compete without fear. From period care kiosks to life-skills workshops, we ensure every girl stays in the game.
A single sanitary pad at the Khelo India Youth Games sparked a revolution. Our 'Simply Periods' initiative, in partnership with the Bihar State Sports Authority, is turning quiet whispers about periods into powerful conversations, ensuring no girl is left on the sidelines.
"This kit would help everyone." An athlete at our Simply Periods Kiosk shares her thoughts on the free period care kits we distributed. These kits provide essential products like sanitary pads, cramp relief roll-ons, and wipes, giving athletes the confidence to compete without worry.
"Thank you for doing this for girls." The voices of young rugby and Thang-ta players at our Khelo India Youth Games kiosk. We explained menstrual health concepts and products like menstrual cups, creating a safe space for them to learn and ask questions.
"Period talk is power talk!" Athletes at our Khelo India Youth Games kiosk hold up signs to break the silence around menstruation. We believe that open conversations build confidence and create a more supportive environment for everyone in sport.
Our Simply Periods Kiosk in Patna was a hub of activity and learning. We used interactive charts and displays to engage athletes, coaches, and even parents, making menstrual health education accessible and stigma-free.
A glimpse from the first few days of our Simply Periods Kiosk at the Khelo India Youth Games. We engaged athletes and coaches with interactive activities and distributed 400 period care kits, making a tangible impact from day one.
International rugby player Sandhya Rai invites everyone to our Simply Period Kiosk. Having athlete role models join our cause is crucial to breaking the taboo around menstruation in sports and inspiring the next generation.
Our Head of Athlete Initiatives, Aditi Mutatkar, a former international badminton champion, explains the mission behind our Simply Periods Kiosk. This initiative, a first for Bihar, aims to educate athletes and coaches on how menstruation impacts performance and health.
We conducted a series of 10 workshops across 5 districts in Bihar, impacting 269 young female athletes. These sessions on menstrual health are crucial for preventing training gaps and reducing dropout rates among girls in sports.
In collaboration with our partners, we conducted the Women in Sport Health Program workshops in Jharkhand. The program focused on menstrual health, female nutrition, and mental resilience for 333 participants, including 114 female athletes.
About Empowering Girls Through Sport
Many girls drop out of sport due to the stigma around periods and a lack of resources, not a lack of talent. We created our 'Simply Periods' initiative to turn this silence into a performance strategy. By providing simple, paper-based 'Meri Khel Yatra' diaries, we help athletes track their energy, nutrition, and cycle symptoms without needing a phone, empowering them and their coaches to manage training intensity with confidence.
Breaking the Silence on the Field
Menstruation remains one of the most significant, yet overlooked, barriers to keeping girls in sports. Our 'Simply Periods' initiative, piloted at the Khelo India Youth Games, proves that when you provide education and resources, the stigma fades. We distributed over 800 period care kits in Patna and Rajgir, turning what used to be a 'hidden struggle' into open conversations among athletes, coaches, and parents.
Practical Tools for Real Challenges
Awareness is the first step, but sustainable change requires tools. Our 'Meri Khel Yatra' diary is a paper-based tracker designed for accessibility, ensuring no athlete is excluded because they lack a smartphone. Data from our pilot programs shows that 80% of girls continued using these diaries post-program, significantly improving their self-awareness regarding sleep, mood, and performance.
Beyond the Kiosk: Workshops and Coach Training
We do not just hand out kits and leave. Our work in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan involves conducting deep-dive workshops for young athletes. We also train coaches under our 'Coach the Coach' framework, equipping them to handle sensitive conversations about menstrual health and mental resilience without making athletes feel uncomfortable.
Our approach is grounded in data. We track metrics like menstrual health literacy and dropout rates, ensuring our interventions actually keep girls on the field. Whether it is through a one-time workshop or a long-term athlete development program, we are here to ensure that every girl in India has the chance to play, grow, and win.
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