“Menstruation is a natural part of life and there is no shame in it.”
14-year-old Dhara lives in a roadside slum community in Delhi, India, where her family earn a living through rag-picking. The road to her home is unpaved, flanked by piles of rubbish and tarpaulin shelters. Basic services like clean water and toilets are absent.
Through Toybox’s partner CHETNA, Dhara joined an education project aimed at supporting street children. With their help, she enrolled in school for the first time and began participating in support groups focused on health, education and life skills as well as workshops about Child Rights.
Here, in her own words, she shares about her life has changed since joining the project:
“My parents work as a ragpickers, and I help them in sorting all the materials so that they can earn more money. When I joined the project, I was not enrolled in school. However, with support from CHETNA, I was able to get enrolled. Now, I take part in various meetings, including support group sessions, life skills workshops and sports activities like Kho-Kho.
“I really enjoy the meetings held at our centres because I've learned a lot from them, such as understanding the concepts of good touch and bad touch, the rights of children, the child helpline number 1098 and the ambulance number 102 for medical emergencies.
“Now that I am enrolled in school, my communication skills have improved. I can speak more politely, confidently, and respectfully. I have also learned time management, which helps me complete my tasks on time.
“I want to study well, get good grades and have access to proper food, as well as clean and neat clothes. In the future, I want to become an astronaut to explore the world beyond the sky and see what it looks like from space.”
Pictured below: (L) Dhara in the slum community where she lives in Delhi. (R) Dhara at home.
For Dhara, learning about her rights also means understanding how to take care of herself and stay safe during her period - something she had never been taught before.
In many parts of the world menstruation is still a topic that is often not openly discussed. Cultural traditions and long-held beliefs can shape how periods are understood and managed. In some communities, girls are not allowed to take part in certain activities - such as attending religious events or entering the kitchen - during their periods. Without access to clear information, hygienic products or private facilities, managing menstruation can be difficult. For many, this leads to missed school or even dropping out entirely.
Dhara knows reality this all too well. When her period started, she found herself confined to the house, excluded from everyday life. But she’s clear that she doesn’t want her period - or the silence around it - to limit her. Instead, she’s sharing what she’s learned with other girls in her community and encouraging them not to feel ashamed:
“My menstruation cycle started six months ago. During it, I'm not allowed to leave the house or participate in religious activities. I feel bored because I’m not allowed to go outside. The restriction keeps me at home, which can be lonely.
“We live in an open space without proper homes and there are no washrooms in our community. This makes it extremely difficult for me to change my pads. I feel exposed to unwanted attention as strangers can see us at any time.
“I am using the sanitary pads provided by CHETNA which I received during a session on period poverty. Their support has been crucial in helping me manage this new phase of my life. I feel comfortable using them.
“It is crucial to educate everyone on how to use sanitary pads properly, rather than creating fear around it. Menstruation is a natural part of life and there is no shame in it.
“If I were Prime Minister, I would ensure the distribution of free sanitary pads to all women and children. I would also focus on building washrooms and providing nutritious food for children.”
Pictured below: (L) Dhara pictured with a CHETNA staff member, receiving period products. (R) Dhara speaking to community members during an awareness-raising session on menstrual hygiene.
For women and girls like Dhara, lack of access to safe hygiene products, clean water and private toilets doesn't just affect their health — it puts their education and safety at risk.
Toybox and our local partners are working to provide safe and hygienic period products, creating safe spaces for girls to learn about menstruation, and running awareness sessions to challenge stigma, break taboos and encourage more open dialogue around the subject of periods.
Gift a period pack and help a street child manage their period with dignity