How Does Bear Earth Work?
In Sri Lanka, the home place of Bear Earth’s founder Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan, one pack of sanitary products costs around 200 rupees, which is the equivalent of a day’s wage.
Zinthiya said: “Throughout the world, women and girls continue to use traditional methods such as rags or alternative products such as toilet tissues during their periods because they can’t afford the cost of menstrual products. There are times women and girls must trade sex in return of period products which is unacceptable. Unfortunately for women and girls living in precarious situations such as in displacement camps the situation can become even worse. Realistically, we know that we won’t be able to change this overnight in every corner of the world, but what we can do is help to educate women on how to be hygienic and use these traditional methods safely and dispose them in an environmentally friendly way thereby supporting these communities."
With funds raised through hygiene kits, subscriptions and other services, the CIC reaches out to communities around the world where sanitary products are inaccessible. This includes refugee camps, rural areas where aid does not reach, plantations, prisons and slums where life is a struggle.
However, the problem also occurs closer to home. Those working on the Bear Earth community project say many girls in the UK miss school for a week every month due to not being able to afford products as well as various cultural beliefs around menstruation.
