FPASL hosts ‘Period Proud’ event to raise awareness on period poverty

The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka (FPASL), in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, hosted its second public event called ‘Period Proud’ at the Jaffna Cultural Centre on September 13th, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
The Collective Action Against Period Poverty (CAAPP) project is currently collaborating with 139 schools in the Northern Province. This initiative directly benefits over 25,000 individuals and indirectly reaches more than 50,000 people through community-driven efforts. The project involves raising awareness about menstrual health and hygiene, improving sanitation facilities in schools, ensuring better access to menstrual products, and working to eliminate the stigma and discrimination surrounding menstruation.
As a part of the CAAPP project, Period Proud 2024 also aimed to raise awareness about period poverty, a multifaceted issue that affects millions of menstruators island wide.
At the event, representing the donor, the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka and the Maldives of the CAAPP project, Olivia Bellemere, Cultural and Cooperation Counsellor of the Embassy of France and the Maldives, stressed the importance of addressing period poverty, which affects 50% of menstruators in Sri Lanka. 
“Period Proud 2024 in Jaffna aimed to build on previous successes, reaching more people across the Northern Province to break taboos and foster a lasting movement of empowerment and education around period dignity”
Sai Murali, Consul General of India in Jaffna and Elilarasi Anton Yoganathan, Deputy Chief Secretary, Administration - Northern Province, were the chief guests.

The event drew a diverse crowd across various age groups, all eager to learn about period poverty and ways to address it. The venue featured stalls hosted by organizations dedicated to menstruation and period poverty. The event showcased 22 stalls, including 13 from FPASL’s CAAPP partner organizations, alongside vendors promoting sustainable period products and addressing menstrual health. 
The event commenced with a panel discussion titled “Ending Period Poverty: The Interplay of Health, Justice, and Equality,” exploring the key issues around period poverty in Sri Lanka. Creative performances, including Bharatanatyam dance, dramas, and interactive dances, were well-received, effectively highlighting the importance of the issue.