Disaster Relief
When the water rises so do we. Mahwari justice has been on the forefront of providing menstrual relief kits to flood affected menstruators.
The 2022 Pakistan floods caused 8 million menstruators to lose access to safe periods, forcing them to use dry leaves, rags and dirt to manage their periods. During this time, Mahwari Justice has distributed period relief kits to over 175,000 menstruators in flood-affected areas and mobilised 680+ volunteers nationwide so far.
During this relief work, we repeatedly heard that period products were not essential or necessary. This reinforced why menstrual health must be recognised as an essential part of humanitarian response, not treated as an optional or secondary need.
THE PAD CRAFT
In 2023, we conducted pad making trainings in a flood-affected community to teach participants how to make reusable menstrual pads using basic sewing skills and materials that could be accessed locally. The training was designed not only to address immediate menstrual needs following the floods, but also to equip community members with a skill they could continue using independently.
This training happened only once and yet even today, participants continue to sew reusable pads from their homes and sell them within nearby communities, creating a locally led model for menstrual product access. By supporting community members to become producers themselves, the initiative connects menstrual health with skills development, income generation, sustainability, and greater community resilience.