In a historic effort, Nosotras, Essity’s leading intimate care brand, and the Oli Foundation have joined forces to bring menstrual dignity to the Awajún communities in Condorcanqui, Amazonas. Through its “El Otro Botiquín” initiative, more than 21,300 packages of sanitary towels have been donated. This alliance aims to transform the lives of 7,567 adolescents and women who daily face barriers to accessing basic hygiene products, which exposes them to vulnerability and exclusion.
Essity implements initiatives that address disparities in menstrual health and calls for other actors to join together to reduce the current gap, highlighting 4 key actions to achieve this structural change: Ensure access to safe and affordable products, solutions and services ; guarantee access to clean water and sanitation facilities in public and private spaces; provide inclusive and accurate information that helps educate on how to manage menstruation; and ensure stigma-free environments and raise awareness of menopause needs.
The impact of “The Other Medicine Cabinet”
Through its emblematic initiative “The Other Botiquín” and linked to access to products, Nosotras reaffirms its commitment to the girls and adolescents of the country. This project, which incorporates essential products such as towels, panty liners and cloths, aims to guarantee that no student has to be absent from classes because they do not have access to these supplies. In addition, it seeks to promote awareness about the importance of menstrual hygiene in schools, challenging the regulations that omit this topic in current school medicine cabinets.
“We don’t want more girls without their ‘Other Medicine Cabinet’. We don’t want more girls exposed or harmed by not having access to sanitary pads. Today we are here to change that reality,” said Fabiola Pásara, Brand Manager of Nosotras.
A challenge that joins forces
The arrival of this help has not been easy. The rugged geography of the region, added to the recent forest fires, complicated logistical tasks. However, thanks to the coordinated work with SERNANP (National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State) and local park rangers, aid will reach 30 priority medical centers, including the Nieva Health Network Hospital, the Nuevo Seasme Health Post, Upper Pajakusa and Central Urakusa.
“Our purpose is bigger than the difficulties. Together with Fundación Oli, we are ensuring that girls in these communities not only receive menstrual hygiene products, but also an opportunity to continue their education with dignity,” Pásara added.
For her part, Diana Crousillat, executive director of the Oli Foundation, emphasized: “Many girls and adolescents face deeply unfair realities, even exposing abuse to access something as basic as a sanitary towel. This effective and emotional connection that we have achieved with Us is transformative. By bringing these towels to them, we give them back control over their body and well-being, ensuring they can live with dignity and without fear.”
An urgent call for collective action
We and Fundación Oli not only seek to alleviate an immediate need; Its objective is to contribute to the fight against menstrual poverty, raising awareness in society about this problem. With this initiative, both institutions invite more social and corporate actors to join the change: “Each first aid kit that we install in schools is one more step towards a Peru without girls victims of menstrual poverty. The health, dignity and future of our girls cannot wait,” Pásara concluded.
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What specific strategies did Nosotras and the Oli Foundation employ to overcome logistical challenges like remoteness and forest fires in delivering menstrual hygiene products to these vulnerable communities?
## Interview: Bringing Menstrual Dignity to Peru’s Awajún Communities
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News! Today, we’re discussing a crucial initiative taking place in Peru’s Amazon region: the “El Otro Botiquín” project, a joint effort between Nosotras, Essity’s leading intimate care brand, and the Oli Foundation. This project aims to tackle menstrual poverty by providing vital hygiene products to adolescents and women in the Awajún communities of Condorcanqui, Amazonas.
We are joined by two remarkable individuals leading this project: Fabiola Pásara, Brand Manager of Nosotras, and Diana Crousillat, Executive Director of the Oli Foundation.
**Section 1: The Urgent Need**:
**Host:** Fabiola, your article cites a staggering statistic: over 7,500 girls and women in these communities face barriers to accessing basic menstrual hygiene products. Can you elaborate on the daily challenges they face due to this lack of access?
**Fabiola:**
**Host:** Diana, the Oli Foundation is deeply committed to the well-being of vulnerable populations. What motivated you to partner with Nosotras on this specific initiative? What unique factors make this project so crucial for the Awajún communities?
**Diana:**
**Section 2: The “El Otro Botiquín” Solution:**
**Host:** This initiative involves more than just providing sanitary towels, right? Fabiola, could you explain the broader goals and impact of “El Otro Botiquín”? How does it address not only the immediate need but also contribute to long-term change?
**Fabiola:**
**Section 3: Overcoming Challenges and Fostering Collaboration:**
**Host:** Diana, reaching these remote communities presented some logistical hurdles, including the impact of recent forest fires. Could you detail some of the unique challenges faced during the implementation process and how you overcame them?
**Diana:**
**Host:** Both your organizations emphasize the importance of collective action in addressing menstrual poverty. What message do you have for other social and corporate actors who want to get involved in driving positive change in this space?
**Fabiola:**
**Diana:**
**Section 4: Looking Ahead: A Call for Sustainable Action:**
**Host:** Looking towards the future, what are the next steps for “El Otro Botiquín”? What milestones do you hope to achieve in ensuring that access to menstrual hygiene products becomes a reality for all girls and women in Peru?
**Fabiola:**
**Diana:**
**Host:** Thank you both for sharing your insights and for your tireless dedication to this vital cause. The “El Otro Botiquín” project is a powerful testament to what can be achieved when organizations collaborate to bridge the gap in menstrual equity.
**Outro:**
Thank you for joining us for this important discussion. For more information on the “El Otro Botiquín” project and how you can get involved, please visit the websites of Nosotras and the Oli Foundation.
