The second washable pad workshop initiated by Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality under the name of “We are transforming with our cycle” was held at Yeniköy Women's Life Center.
Within the scope of the “We Produce Because of Menstruation Project”, which was implemented by the Department of Women and Family Services in cooperation with the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, the washable pad workshop study called “We are transforming with our cycle” against menstrual poverty continues at the Women’s Life Centers. The opening of the workshop was held at the Ben û Sen Women’s Life Center, which was determined as the pilot, and the second was held at the Yeniköy Women’s Life Center in the Bağlar district. Sevda Kayar, an employee of the Department of Women and Family Services, provided information about reproductive health and the menstrual taboo before the workshop, where women participated intensively.
Education activities on women's reproductive health
Recalling that they started the pad making workshop at Ben û Sen Women's Life Center, Kayar noted that they held the second workshop there upon request from Yeniköy Women's Life Center. Kayar stated that they conducted an education study on women's reproductive health before the workshop and provided information on the menstrual taboo, the difficulties women experience during their menstrual period and misconceptions about reproductive health in the awareness study in question. Kayar said that after the education and awareness study, they went to the washable pad workshop and explained how the pads are sewn, and said, “Every woman who sews her pad takes it home with her. Our main goal in this workshop is to be able to produce a sustainable and environmentally friendly pad and to prevent the problems in accessing menstrual products, which has become a fundamental problem.”
'We will expand the workshop'
Drawing attention to the importance of coming together with women to sew sanitary pads together and being able to collaborate with women, Kayar said, “Our workshop will continue in our other living centers according to demand. We will expand the workshop in line with demand, including Lalabey, Huzurevleri Mahallesi, outer districts and central districts, and we will try to reach more women.”
'One in three women spend their periods with unhygienic diapers'
Kayar, who said that they received very positive feedback after the first workshop and therefore decided to spread the workshop, continued her words as follows: “Women say that it is very good for them. They expressed their satisfaction with the work because they are together and at least an alternative is created for the problems they experience with menstrual products, which are a basic need. One of the things we encountered the most in this study is that one third of the women who come to the workshop use regular diapers at home and try to have their periods with diapers that are not hygienic in terms of health.
'We will carry out neighborhood-by-neighborhood work'
Kayar, who stated that there was a high demand for the workshop from young women, said, “The workshop basically provides young women with the opportunity to access more accurate and healthier information about their menstrual period. At the same time, we will make these studies more widespread and reach more women in order to reach washable pads, which are an alternative to disposable pads, and to have a more comfortable menstrual period. We will carry out the work in each neighborhood and village in line with the demands.”
