At least 500 million women and girls globally lack access to the necessary facilities to manage their periods with dignity, including menstrual products, safe toilets, and adequate water for hygiene. ActionAid finds that in Sub-Saharan Africa, one in ten girls misses school during their menstrual periods, which can account for up to 20% of the school year. A significant number of women and girls in these regions are forced to use unsafe and unhygienic materials like rags, grass, and paper to manage their periods, increasing the risk of infections and other health issues.
Flo Haven, a leading charity dedicated to combating period poverty, has aounced its latest initiative: the construction of a borehole in the Egbeda community of Lagos, Nigeria. This project, aptly named the "Period Purity Project: Ending Period Poverty with Clean Water Access," aims to provide a sustainable solution to the water scarcity issues that have been impacting the community and exacerbating menstrual health challenges for its residents. Flo Haven previously constructed a borehole in the Agege community in Lagos (see below).
About Flo Haven
Flo Haven is a non-profit organisation that advocates for menstrual equity, and the provision of menstrual health education and sustainable period products to underprivileged girls in Nigeria. The charity’s vision is to eradicate period poverty and the stigma attached to menstruation in Nigeria. Check out our 2021 interview with Flo Haven founder Tara Akindele, for more on the motivation behind the initiative.
Addressing the Urgent Need for Clean Water
Flo Haven's recent assessments in Egbeda have underscored the critical need for a reliable source of clean water. Currently, the limited water supply in one of the compounds is insufficient and unsustainable. Community members often deplete the water tank, leaving residents without access to this essential resource. This scarcity severely impacts daily living and health, particularly for women and girls who face additional menstrual health challenges as a result.
Project Timeline and Execution
The Egbeda borehole project will be officially aounced in June, coinciding with Flo Haven's Menstrual Hygiene Day activities, and is set to run until the end of the third quarter. This initiative will not only mark a significant step in their ongoing efforts to combat period poverty but also align with their broader mission to improve Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) standards in underprivileged communities.
To ensure the success and sustainability of the project, Flo Haven is partnering with local contractors and community leaders. This collaboration will help streamline the construction process and secure the efficient and effective completion of the borehole.
Funding the Initiative
Funding for the "Period Purity Project" is being sourced through Flo Haven's valued donors, fundraising activities, and the proceeds from their "Buy One Give One" campaign. This campaign has been instrumental in rallying support and resources to make this transformative project possible. However, to achieve their ambitious goals, Flo Haven continue to seek support from individuals and organisations willing to lend a hand and partner with them to raise money, donate sustainable period products and spread awareness of their work.
Impact on the Egbeda Community
The community's current water supply is inadequate, limited and unreliable, leading to frequent shortages and heightened health risks. The scarcity of clean water exacerbates menstrual health issues, particularly for girls and women – it can impact their daily lives and well-being, and potentially cause health issues such as reproductive and urinary tract infections which can result in future infertility and birth complications.
The new borehole will provide a reliable and sustainable source of clean water, improving overall health and hygiene. With better access to water, the community will experience significant enhancements in daily living conditions and health outcomes, particularly for women and girls during their menstrual cycles.
Call to Action: How You Can Help?
Alongside the borehole construction, Flo Haven will be conducting a reusable pad drive in the Egbeda community, aiming to reach 3,000 girls from June until the end of the third quarter. We can all help to support them in a variety of ways, including:
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Donate Menstrual Products: Essential supplies to ensure that every girl can manage her menstrual health with dignity. Please contact Flo Haven if you can donate new menstrual products (particularly sustainable reusable period pads, menstrual cups, or organic pads and tampons) for their pads drive, where they will go directly to those in need.
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Financial Assistance: Funding for empowerment programs and clean water projects that will educate and support the community. These vital funds are much appreciated and you can make your donation here.
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Expand the Flo Haven Team: If you can volunteer your time or services in any capacity to help Flo Haven achieve their goals, do get in touch. This could be graphic design services, fundraising, writing articles etc. – the sky is the limit!
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Share their Work: Help spread the word of Flo Haven's campaigns and initiatives online or in person.
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Buy one Give one: Every order placed on the Battle Green website between May 28th and June 4th 2024 will donate a reusable period pad to Flo Haven's pad drive.
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Win! Enter and share the Flo Haven x Battle Green Instagram giveaway for Menstrual Hygiene Day – you could win a zero waste beauty hamper and reusable period pads set.
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Join Us in Making a Difference
Flo Haven believes that access to clean water is a fundamental human right and a crucial step towards ending period poverty. By addressing the water scarcity in Egbeda, they aim to create lasting change and improve the lives of countless girls and women, and the wider community.
We invite you to join us in this transformative journey to make a significant impact and ensure that every girl has the resources she needs to thrive.
Find out more about Flo Haven and follow their work on Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter. Donation links and their Volunteer Form can be found on social media pages and on the Flo Haven website. Let's work together to help Flo Haven bring clean water and menstrual health solutions to Egbeda and beyond.
