Project Nirbhaya

What is it?

Project Nirbhaya, meaning "fearless," is an initiative aimed at supporting female students in the rural parts of Nepal, specifically in Province 3, Sindhuli. The project addressed critical challenges faced by these students, such as missing 3–4 months of school annually due to menstruation, by providing sustainable and informative sex education with a focus on menstrual hygiene. 

My involvement: Core Project Team

The initiative tackled critical social issues such as the rising rates of rape, sexual harassment, and the prevalent practice of elopement, which often led to early pregnancies and reproductive health complications. Through targeted sex education sessions for secondary-level students, the project covered topics like "good and bad touch" and provided practical resources to promote continued education and personal safety. 

Project Nirbhaya successfully delivered comprehensive sex education sessions led by a professional expert, focusing on menstrual hygiene and broader sexual health topics, followed by an interactive question-and-answer segment that addressed students’ concerns. The initiative also distributed free sanitary pads to Pathashala Secondary School and Kamala Mai Higher Secondary School, sufficient to last one to one-and-a-half years, and included a demonstration on the proper disposal of used pads, equipping students with the knowledge and resources to manage their menstrual health confidently and continue their education without interruption.