In the words of Rana: “The period poverty project has ignited a newfound optimism in my life”

Rana,* 27, faced numerous challenges as a mother of three young children, with her husband's inability to work due to a debilitating injury sustained a year ago while working. In 2023, she joined UN Women and Acted’s menstrual hygiene manufacturing facility, Hawa’a, as a manufacturer to produce high-quality sanitary pads in Bekaa, Lebanon. The project “Humanitarian Assistance to Women by Women: Women at Work to reduce period poverty and food insecurity in the Lebanon Crisis” aims to provide women and their families access to emergency livelihoods and protection, while experiencing less period poverty and food insecurity.

“Ever since my husband became sick, the responsibility of providing for the family fell heavily on my shoulders, leading to financial struggles and the imminent threat of eviction. Lacking formal education and facing economic hardship, I grappled with feelings of desperation. It was hard to find a job with the few qualifications I had, and harder to feed my children with the little money in our pockets.

Due to the soaring prices of sanitary pads, I struggled with the ability to afford them. Sanitary pads are no longer subsidized, and over the years, I had to choose between spending money on sanitary pads or food for my family. I chose the latter. I would often use cloths as reusable pads, but this led to infections and pain that I had to take medications to get rid of.

A friend of mine heard that a new menstrual hygiene production facility was opening near my house and that they needed women to work there. I immediately applied for the opportunity, and thankfully, I got in. Upon joining this transformative initiative, my perspective shifted, and I found renewed hope.

Engaging in the project, which involved packaging sanitary pads, not only provided me with a source of income but also created a supportive and empowering environment. This became a lifeline for me. My daily routine now involves waking up early, ensuring my children are fed, and taking a taxi tuk-tuk to the facility where I contribute to the production process.

Beyond the financial relief, it has given me a sense of purpose and strength. The ability to provide for my family has revitalized my spirit, dispelling previous feelings of uselessness.

Period poverty is often stigmatized in our communities. Women and girls feel the need to hide their cramping and lower their voices when they speak about their menstrual cycle. I envision a future where menstruation awareness expands its reach to refugee camps and households, ensuring that crucial information about menstrual hygiene reaches young girls in need of awareness. The period poverty project has ignited a newfound optimism in my life.”

Rana* is one of 120 women at the Hawa’a manufacturing facility in Bekaa led by the NGO Acted, supported by UN Women with generous funding from the Government of Australia. Aimed at addressing the growing need for affordable menstrual hygiene products in Lebanon’s challenging economic climate, the facilities in Bekaa, Saida, Tripoli and Beirut, have collectively produced over 64,000 boxes of sanitary pads, reaching over 10,000 women and girls in different regions around Lebanon.

*An alias has been used to protect the identity of the individual.