Walk Through Akshata: Events Edition
Survey @ Church Street
March 16, 2025
In a revealing effort to understand community awareness around women’s hygiene, the Akshata Foundation conducted an awareness drive and survey on March 16th. The findings shed light on alarming gaps in knowledge that underscore the urgent need for education and awareness.
Event Highlights:
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Purpose: To assess awareness levels surrounding menstruation, cervical cancer, and women’s hygiene in local communities.
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Findings:
🔴 60% of men had no knowledge of what menstruation is.
🔴 80% of both men and women were unaware of cervical cancer—a disease that claims the lives of over 75,000 Indian women annually (WHO, 2023).
🔴 100% of respondents did not understand the science behind cervical cancer, despite it being one of the most preventable cancers through vaccination and early screening. -
Insight: These figures highlight the deep-rooted stigma and misinformation that continue to endanger women’s health.
Real-life examples further expose the human cost of ignorance. In 2010, a 13-year-old girl in Bihar was expelled from school because her teacher believed menstruation was “impure” (BBC, 2010). Similarly, a 2022 study in rural Rajasthan found that over 70% of women had never heard of HPV—the virus responsible for over 95% of cervical cancer cases (The Lancet Regional Health, 2022).
Education saves lives—but silence costs them.
The Akshata Foundation remains committed to breaking taboos, spreading awareness, and empowering communities with knowledge that protects generations to come. 🚺💙
BAKE SALE @ Malleshwaram
On December 5, 2024, In a heartwarming display of community spirit and generosity, the Akshata Foundation organized a bake sale that successfully raised ₹12,000. The funds are earmarked to provide essential hygiene kits and cervical cancer vaccines to women and girls in need, aligning with the foundation's mission to promote health, dignity, and awareness.
Event Highlights:
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Purpose: To raise funds for essential hygiene kits and cervical cancer vaccinations.
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Activities: The event featured a variety of homemade baked goods, attracting community members to contribute to the cause.
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Outcome: A total of ₹12,000 was raised, which will directly support the foundation's health initiatives.
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Empowering Young Minds at Basaveshwaranagara Pathashale.
On November 4, 2024, the Akshata Foundation conducted an enlightening workshop for Grade 8 and 9 students at Basaveshwaranagara Pathashale. Led by Sukruti and Harshitha from Akshata, the session engaged around 20 young girls in meaningful discussions on:
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Menstrual Hygiene
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Gender Bias
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Good Touch vs. Bad Touch
The workshop fostered a safe space for learning and unlearning, encouraging students to challenge taboos and misinformation.
Together, we're nurturing a generation that's informed, confident, and unafraid to break social stigmas.
Awareness with Empathy at Govindaraja Government School.
On September 13, 2024, the Akshata Foundation conducted two insightful sessions at Govindaraja Government School, led Miss Kavita from Rotary Bangalore
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For Grade 8th Girls:
Miss Kavita introduced the benefits of using cloth sanitary pads, promoting sustainable and healthy menstrual practices.
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For Grade 8thBoys:
The session focused on menstrual awareness, emphasizing respect, empathy, and the importance of supporting their peers.
These discussions are vital in breaking stigmas and fostering an inclusive environment.
Empowering Girls in Saneguruvanahalli
On March 15, 2024,In Saneguruvanahalli, we spent two powerful hours with curious and resilient young girls, addressing topics often overlooked in schools:
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Menstrual health
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Hygiene
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Personal safety
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Led by Mrs. Sowmya Srikanth from the Shridandha Foundation, the sessions created a safe space to discuss sensitive issues like:
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Rape
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Inappropriate touch
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Bodily autonomy
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Our aim was to ensure every girl felt seen, heard, and empowered. To support this, we distributed 200 eco-friendly hygiene kits to promote sustainable care.
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