ACTIVISTS and influencers have entered into partnership with the Christian charity World Vision to raise awareness online of the 500 million women and girls around the world who lack access to safe menstrual hygiene facilities.

In a social-media campaign, the charity is asking supporters to create a reusable sanitary pad and post a picture of it between International Women’s Day on 8 March and Mothering Sunday on 15 March, in solidarity with women around the world. The pads can be made using five household items, and each can be used for up to two-and-a-half years, reducing the amount of disposable plastic waste.

Among the promoting of the campaign online is Shamsa Araweelo, a campaigner against female genital mutilation, who has 70 million TikTok followers.

Period poverty is one of the prime reasons that girls miss school, World Vision says. In India, one quarter of girls don’t go to school when having their period owing to a lack of sanitation. In South Sudan, 57 per cent of girls stay away from the classroom. Girls also report being teased when makeshift period products fail, and this leads some to stop attending school altogether.

“Our hope is for as many people as possible to post a picture of their creations on social media using the hashtag #PostYourPad and tag World Vision UK,” said Sam Bishop, a World Vision spokesperson.

“It’s a simple act, but the start of big and important conversations about menstrual-management issues, including water access, sanitation, and hygiene for women and girls, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances. Challenging taboos and getting people talking about period poverty is an important step for change.”

An instruction video is available at worldvision.org.uk, which features Amika George, who began her period-poverty campaign at the age of 17 and secured funding for free menstrual products in English schools and colleges. She has been an ambassador for World Vision.