Breaking the Silence 2021 Campaign Year End Summary

Breaking the Silence 2021 Campaign themed \"Media as the change agent\" and launched on launched on 3 April 2021 in DG Halli slums in Bengaluru, Karnataka is Breaking the Silence Worldwide Foundation's (NGO based in Bengaluru/Karnataka in India) eighth year of campaigning for a stigma free menstruation. 

The campaign can be followed here:

• https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4082898895103558&type=3


• https://www.instagram.com/breakingthesilence_2014/


• https://www.facebook.com/endmyths

During the course of the year, seventy-two articles, advertisements and published images and illustrations on menstruation and girls and women were shared in social media with an aim to create awareness on the problems and concerns surrounding menstruation in India and the world, but also to highlight the role that media has played in bringing the spotlight and priority on menstrual hygiene management and rights of menstruators.

A unique competition called \" I Know Uterus\" was organised online from 1st May to 31st July 2021 using art and creativity to illustrate and perceive the female body and physiology such as menstruation. Altogether, there were 26 art entries with 85% female and 15% male participants between the age group of 10- 65 years from 8 states and 17 districts within India. The grand prize ceremony was held online on 1st September 2021 and the three winners received a complete art set as prizes.

We observed how parents, relatives and teachers facilitated partcipation among children in this art competition. Also, felt happy to find participation from guys!

International Women's Day, 8 March 2021 was observed via Facebook Live where the messaging centred around how women's leadership involves women in preparing themselves through skills and attitude to take up the role of leaders.

On International Menstrual Hygiene Day, 28 May 2021, Menstruation Poetry was organised on Insta Live. Poetry that depicted the different ways in which people experience menstruation in the language of our hearts.

A skill based training for girls and women homemakers from low economic strata was organised in a slum in Bengaluru where close to twenty participants learnt knitting and giving the finishing touch to handknit sweaters. This is an ongoing program in 2022 as well.

Started a business Women of India in 2021 for sustenance of our work in menstrual health, solid waste management, women empowerment and digital empowerment among women. Few of our friends and well wishers donated wool yarn and sewing kits to help the venture.

Mobilised support for the procurement and distribution of protective gear such as face shield, N95 masks, surgical gloves, handsanitizer, soap and disinfectant Dettol for community frontline workers in three districts of Manipur viz., Imphal East, Imphal West and Kakching. The beneficiaries expressed joy and gratitude for receiving these life saving items because even the government and concerned departments failed to provide masks to their own staff like ASHA workers so expecting those for community volunteers was bound to meet disappointment.

Based on the interaction with the community frontline workers in Manipur, two articles were published in The Statesman and Assam Tribune carrying the community's voice and recommendations on their needs during the pandemic.

Important observations and recommendations from the field based on our work in seven districts in Manipur were handed over to the Chairperson of Manipur State Commission for Women, Binota Meinam. Breaking the Silence Campaign's major result is recommendation to the government and civil society at different levels.

The highlight of 2021 is how friends of Breaking the Silence Campaign donated for the COVID-19 materials for community volunteers in Manipur, materials for Women of India venture. Due to a raging pandemic, COVID-19 protocols and our team scattered due to relocation, our work, meetings and financial aspect were all weakened considerably but we gave it our best!

Breaking the Silence 2022 Campaign will be launched with a brand new theme on 1 April 2022.

For any queries, reach us at urmilabtswf@gmail.com

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SvHFArsGHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24VZBGn-cmI