Boondh Is Spreading Menstrual Advocacy, One Drop At A Time

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

May 25, 2021

Highlights

Boondh is a hybrid organisation that works on Sustainable Products, Menstrual Literacy, Advocacy, Policy and Programming.

It offers a range of menstrual cups and cloth pads while also hosting workshops or capacity-building programs with varied stakeholders.

Bharti Kannan with co-founder Sonal Jain aim to address, challenge and subvert systemic exclusions, violence, denial of rights with respect to information and healthcare and WASH, surrounding menstruation in India through their initiatives.

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Started by Bharti Kannan and co-founder Sonal Jain, Boondh is working on menstruation-related interventions, activism and advocacy. Through their outreach programs they have sponsored cups for economically underprivileged menstruators in Leh Ladakh to fisherwomen and govt. health workers in Kerala in the south, domestic helpers in Kanpur and menstruators in West Bengal, Hyderabad and Uttarakhand.

“For beneficiaries who opt for sustainable menstrual products, we also integrate a supply chain of Boondh Menstrual Cups and Boondh Cloth pads”, says Sonal. Boondh also conducts workshops for campus youths and aspiring change-makers, green period educator program for workplaces that spark conversations on sustainable menstruation and menstrual health by creating a menstruator friendly environment.

The Crimson Wave is their non-profit initiative in menstrual art by Boondh. Titled after a common euphemism used to describe one’s period, this project aims to bring the dialogue on menstruation to the mainstream. Erythrean, a sub-project of The Crimson Wave, features artworks created through the medium of menstrual blood. “We’re always taking in new submissions so if you have a story to tell through your art, you can submit at our website”.

Boondh’s development of Minimum Standards in Prisons for Menstrual Hygiene along with Resource Toolkit Reporting Guidelines got them the Priyadarshini Award for achievements in the Menstrual Health and Hygiene Space. Boondh represented the Women’s Major Groups (WMG) as part of the Major Groups in the United Nations Environment Assembly held in Nairobi in 2019. It was among the 3 selected social enterprises to exhibit its work and impact as part of the Laureate Global Fellowship in DC, USA in 2018.

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When it comes to India, one can never say that there is enough menstrual literacy and awareness because of the poverty and illiteracy that exists among the population. Boondh is a hybrid enterprise started by Bharti Kannan who noticed a gaping hole in menstruation-related interventions, activism and advocacy. Co-founder Sonal Jain came on board when they and Bharti met.

Today, after five years Boondh is seven members strong and like they say, they are working hard to make menstruation a ‘non-issue’ in the country. They work on sustainable products, menstrual literacy, advocacy, policy and programming. Boondh offers a range of menstrual cups and cloth pads while also hosting workshops or capacity-building programs with varied stakeholders.

Bharti Kannan, strives to be a conscientious entrepreneur hoping to bring about positive outcomes along the themes of gender, health and environment. She was awarded the Priyadharshini Achievers Award 2021 by the Karnataka Mahila Congress for her achievements and contributions in the Menstrual Health and Hygiene Sector; she was also selected to participate in the Royal Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering for Development symposium on the theme “WASHing away inequalities”, co-hosted by Fomento Mexicano in Mexico City, 2019. Bharti was also a Representative, Women’s Major Group (WMG) at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 2019), Nairobi, sponsored by Women’s Environment and Development Organization.

From building menstrual life skills to advocating for sustainable period products to raising awareness about menstrual disorders – Boondh’s outreach work is carried on through various programs, campaigns and workshops, each designed and contextualized to suit the specific audience group. “We believe strongly in the power of safe, non-judgemental spaces, experience sharing and active listening, and strive to realise these tenets”, say the founders.

Sonal Jain is not only a Menstrual Health Advocate and lives with PCOS & PMDD. They have been an MHH (Menstrual Health & Hygiene) facilitator since 2013. Their previous work includes facilitating teams for World Merit UK in the space of environmental sustainability and education. Their everyday activities include empowering conversations and living mindfully. And that is why the values and mission of Boondh resonates with them.

Mission and Vision

Boondh is also very Intersectional Feminist in a way that is conscientious of how caste, gender, capital, religion, etc interplay in everyday menstrual experiences and choices.

They are eco-conscious towards urging for sustainable ways of program delivery and in turn WASH infrastructure development. Their campaigns include advocating for sustainable menstruation methods by switching, which are also available on their website to shop from. Through their outreach programs they have sponsored cups for economically under privileged menstruators in Leh Ladakh to fisherwomen and govt. health workers in Kerala in the south, domestic helpers in Kanpur and menstruators in West Bengal, Hyderabad and Uttarakhand.

Advocacy through art

Among other programs, The Crimson Wave is a non-profit initiative in menstrual art by Boondh. Titled after a common euphemism used to describe one’s period, this project aims to bring the dialogue on menstruation to the mainstream.

The central idea of the project is to curate artwork about periods, myths about menstruation and different representations of female biology from a diverse range of artists across the world. It is India’s first traveling menstrual art exhibition. Exhibited in a different city each year leading up to Menstrual Hygiene Day, TCW has traveled to Chennai, Bangalore Goa and Delhi so far, and went online for its 2020 edition.

Erythrean, a sub-project of The Crimson Wave, features artworks created through the medium of menstrual blood. “We’re always taking in new submissions so if you have a story to tell through your art, you can submit it at our website”.

Over the years, Boondh has worked with corporate and development sector organizations alike, building menstrual interventions to impart menstrual life skills, advance menstrual literacy, raise awareness about alternative menstrual product options as well as improve menstruation-related organisational policy and infrastructure.

“For beneficiaries who opt for sustainable menstrual products, we also integrate a supply chain of Boondh Menstrual Cups and Boondh Cloth pads”, says Sonal.

Boondh also conducts workshops for campus youths and aspiring change makers, green period educator program for workplaces that spark conversations on sustainable menstruation and menstrual health by creating a menstruator friendly environment.

Their Resource Toolkit Reporting Guidelines is consciously designed to make discourse about menstruation more representative, accurate and holistics for media persons and is a solid starting point towards enabling refined discussions and reportage surrounding menstruation. Boondh’s development of Minimum Standards in Prisons for Menstrual Hygiene along with this toolkit has been recognized by the Karnataka Mahila Congress with the Priyadarshini Award for achievements in the Menstrual Health and Hygiene Space.

“Our mission keeps the menstruator at the centre of the ecosystem, attempts to be participatory in seeking menstruator choices, decisions and approaches to addressing change through an intersectional feminist approach”, they say.

Boondh is a recipient of a grant for menstrual advocacy to the tune of 37000 GBP from Amplify Change through a fiscal sponsor. Boondh represented the Women’s Major Groups (WMG) as part of the Major Groups in the United Nations Environment Assembly held in Nairobi in 2019. It was also among 3 selected social enterprises to exhibit its work and impact as part of the Laureate Global Fellowship in DC, USA in 2018.

Today, what Boondh is doing may just be a drop in the ocean but remember, it is such drops that maketh the ocean.

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Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin has done her masters in Journalism & Communication and has worked as a senior journalist, editor and columnist for leading publications like The Logical Indian, Deccan Chronicle, Worldwide Media Corporation, The Bridge and Provoke.
With Infano, she hopes to create more awareness about women’s health issues. Suffering with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, she has also been advocating for its awareness through media.

Checking For Breast Cancer Is More Important Than Checking The Notifications On Your Phone

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

June 12, 2021 | 12:04 PM |

Highlights

Regular self-examination of your breasts is the best way to detect breast cancers and catch them early. Most cancers that are caught early are treated more successfully.
There are four easy steps to do a self-examination of your breasts at home to check for any lumps, bumps or abnormalities.
Do not panic if you think you feel a lump in your breast. Get in touch with your doctor if you’ve noticed a lump or other breast change. Most women may have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts and most turn out to be benign (not cancer).

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Here are 4 easy steps to do a self breast exam

1. Stand in front of a mirror, place your hands on your hips and look at your breasts for their usual size, shape, and color. Look for any uneven shape, visible distortion or swelling. Look out for these:

· Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin

· Nipple has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)

· Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

· Any fluid discharge coming from one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

2. Using your right hand feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Do this lying down. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Check the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side in a circular motion. Start from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

3. Follow the same pattern throughout. Start at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast and then move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows. Feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

4. Now feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. The easiest way to feel the breasts is when the skin is wet and slippery, so you can do this in the shower. Cover your entire breast, and repeat step 3.

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Just like you have your daily CTM skin routine or oiling the hair routine every week, it is also important to take care of your breasts regularly. is important to also take care of your breasts regularly. Breast changes should seek more attention than the notifications on your phone. Regular self-examination of your breasts is the best way to detect breast cancers and catch them early. If breast cancer is caught early is treated more successfully.

Here are 4 easy steps to do a self breast exam

· Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin

· Nipple has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)

· Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

· Any fluid discharge coming from one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

3. Follow a same pattern throughout. Start at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast and then move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows. Feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

What to do if you find an abnormality?

Do not panic if you think you feel a lump in your breast. Get in touch with your doctor if you’ve noticed a lump or other breast change that is mentioned above. Most women may have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts and most turn out to be benign (not breast cancer). Non-cancerous breast lumps may be caused due to hormonal changes, a benign breast condition, or an injury.

Also, there are changes in the breasts throughout the menstrual cycle: breasts may seem to get bigger or more prominent in some way. Menstruators may want to wait until after your period to see if the lump or other breast change disappears on its own before calling your doctor.

The doctor may do a physical exam of the breasts and may ask for breast cancer imaging tests. Both an ultrasound and a mammogram are typically recommended to evaluate a lump in women who are over age 30 and not pregnant or breastfeeding. Further tests may include additional imaging with MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), MBI (molecular breast imaging), and/or a biopsy if required.

It is important to make sure to get an explanation of the cause of the lump or breast change from your doctor, and, if necessary, a plan for monitoring it or treating it. Don’t hesitate to get a second opinion if you are not comfortable or satisfied with the doctor.

How often should one do breast self-exam

Do breast self-examination once a month to familiarize yourself with how your breasts normally look and feel especially after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you don’t menstruate, choose a day that’s easy to remember and follow it every month. The upper, outer area around the armpits has the most prominent lumps and bumps.

Record the findings of your breast self-exams in a diary as this may help you remember, every month what is “normal” for your breasts. Lumps may appear at certain times of the month and disappear as your body changes with the menstrual cycle (if you are still menstruating).

Source: breastcancer.org

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