All around the world, girls living through conflict are forced to live in dangerous and unhygienic conditions, with no access to sanitary products.

But no girl, anywhere, should be held back because of her period.

Wesal was only 9 years old when her mother was killed in an airstrike on their house in Syria and her father was arrested.

Devastated, her grandmother, Azziza fled to the border taking Wesal and her three sisters into Jordan, in the hope of protecting them from more violence.

With young children to look after and a leg injury from the conflict, Azziza is doing her best to support her young granddaughters in Jordan. But it is very hard as she is unable to work and they are living on a limited income. Every monthAzziza faces the heartbreaking choice of buying sanitary towels or food for them.

ActionAid is helping women and girls like Wesal in Jordan, and in countries across the world where conflict and disasters are stopping them from accessing clean and safe sanitary products. No girl should have to choose between sanitary protection and food.

By providing sanitary pads, a safe place to wash and information on reproductive health, we are helping to keep girls healthy and in school. 

A regular gift from you could help ActionAid support women and girls like Wesal to manage their periods with dignity every month. 

The difference your donation makes

Donation value

£10 per month

could help fund our outreach work towards ending the practice of period shaming

£7 per month

could help fund workshops to teach girls how to make their own reusable sanitary towels

£3 per month

could help provide hygiene kits containing sanitary towels for girls who can’t afford them

Or choose your own amount to give

£
per month

What we do

When a disaster strikes, women and girls tell us that amongst the items that they need are sanitary towels, wipes and soap. Without these products, they are forced to use improvised methods to manage their periods including torn pieces of clothing, rags or dirty rugs. This can be ineffective, uncomfortable and unhygienic. 

That is why we provide sanitary kits in our humanitarian response work, alongside other essentials including food, water and shelter. 

We have distributed sanitary towels in crises as wide-ranging as the Nepal earthquakes of 2015, in Jordan and in Greece as part of our response to the Syrian refugee crisis and in East Africa during the food crisis of 2017.

They are often distributed at our Women Friendly Spaces, which we set up in the aftermath of disasters to provide a safe space for women and girls who may be at risk of violence. 

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How we use the money you give us

For every £1 we spend:

72p is spent on programme activity, including humanitarian and development work

12p is spent on fundraising

9p is spent on support costs (running the organisation)

7p is spent on campaigning for change

These figures are taken from our expenditure in 2016.

We’re committed to keeping our supporters happy and being open and honest about how we fundraise. To find out more you can read our supporter promise.

Why can't I donate sanitary products? 

ActionAid always tries to source sanitary products as locally as possible. Sourcing goods in this way helps us to cut down on costs whilst ensuring that the items we provide are appropriate for the local environment and culture. This not only supports the local and national economy but also facilitates a more efficient response, as it means we don’t have to depend on regional postal systems.

In non-emergencies, we also work with communities on a case by case basis to determine the best solution for women and girls within that community. Sometimes that means helping to provide disposable sanitary products, other times it may mean providing women with the tools to create their own reusable sanitary towels and to be able to use them hygienically.

What do women in humanitarian crises use when they don't have sanitary pads?

During humanitarian disasters, women and girls are often forced to use whatever they can to manage their periods, including rags, newspapers and even tree bark. They tell us that one of the things they need the most are sanitary towels and underwear, so they can manage their periods hygienically and with dignity

For women who are able to access sanitary towels, many have no choice but to re-use them for many days. This can be psychologically distressing, uncomfortable and even dangerous, putting them at a serious risk of infection.

Find out answers to the most frequently asked questions about periods and our work.

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Top image: Wesal escaped Syria with her grandmother and sisters when conflict broke out. Sharron Lovell/ActionAid

Page updated 23 July 2024