About this project
Indonesia is experiencing worsening hydrometeorological disasters, particularly recurrent floods exacerbated by climate change. A critical yet overlooked contributor is menstrual waste: more than 42,000 tons of disposable pads containing plastic and lead are discarded annually, with much of this waste ending up in rivers. These materials not only intensify pollution but also pose serious health hazards, especially during flooding when contaminated waters mix with menstrual waste. Women living in flood-prone settlements, such as communities along the Ciliwung River, face a dual burden of environmental risk and limited access to safe menstrual hygiene during emergencies. This situation underscores the urgency for community-driven, gender-sensitive, and climate-resilient solutions. The Period-Proof Resilience Program seeks to empower approximately 30 young women aged 10–30 from vulnerable communities along the Ciliwung River to become local champions of sustainable menstrual hygiene. Using a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) framework, participants will co-create reusable menstrual pad solutions, engage in environmental education, and build preparedness for safe menstruation during disasters. Partnership with Generasi Ciliwung and local stakeholders will enhance program impact by integrating eco-enzyme production and water filtration training, thereby linking menstrual health with broader climate resilience. The initiative builds upon prior research in Pari Island and Bogor City, aligning with SDGs 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action). The project budget is carefully structured to ensure both accountability and sustainability. Core allocations cover menstrual hygiene education sessions, reusable pad production workshops, and eco-friendly material utilization. Supporting costs—including administrative needs, instructional materials, and participant refreshments—are designed to maintain program efficiency while fostering strong community engagement. Implementation will be guided by a clear framework that emphasizes participatory learning, partnership building, and scalable innovation. Monitoring and evaluation are embedded through pre- and post-tests to measure knowledge gains, surveys to assess awareness of reusable pads and climate change links, and feedback tools to capture participant satisfaction. Outreach impact will be monitored through social media engagement under the hashtag #CeritaAksiIklimOrangMuda, while peer-to-peer dissemination will extend knowledge beyond direct beneficiaries. The anticipated outcomes include measurable reductions in disposable pad use, strengthened awareness of menstrual health as part of climate adaptation, and the creation of a replicable, community-led model for waste innovation. By gaining practical skills in eco-friendly pad production, participants will also be equipped to explore microenterprise opportunities and serve as peer educators. Reflection Day will serve as both an evaluation and celebration platform, featuring sharing sessions, testimonials, exhibitions, and recognition of participant achievements. Ultimately, this initiative aims to reduce menstrual waste pollution, foster climate resilience, and improve public health in flood-prone communities. With its adaptable framework, the program holds strong potential for scaling to other vulnerable regions, ensuring that more women can access safe, sustainable, and dignified menstrual hygiene solutions.
Goals and Objectives
Goal
To empower young women in flood-prone communities to become innovators and leaders in sustainable menstrual hygiene, reducing pollution, strengthening climate resilience, and safeguarding dignity during menstruation.
Objectives
1. Tackle menstrual waste at its source
Introduce reusable menstrual pads as a climate-smart alternative to single-use products, engaging at least 30 young women (10–30 years old) along the Ciliwung River in Cililitan, East Jakarta.
2. Co-create solutions through participatory workshops
Facilitate creative, hands-on sessions where participants design, make, and maintain reusable pads using locally available materials to ensure cultural fit and practicality.
3. Build youth-led environmental leadership
Train participants as peer educators and changemakers who promote sustainable menstruation, protect water resources, and drive local climate action.
4. Connect menstruation, waste, and climate impacts
Use interactive methods like story circles, mapping, and role-play to demonstrate how poor menstrual waste disposal pollutes rivers and oceans, especially in flood-prone areas.
5. Equip women for safe menstruation in emergencies
Co-develop hygiene strategies for flood situations when clean water, toilets, and privacy are limited, protecting both dignity and health.
6. Break stigma and transform narratives
Create safe spaces for dialogue that challenge taboos, dispel myths, and encourage responsible menstrual waste management.
Our Approach
Grounded in participatory action research, the project positions women as co-creators rather than passive recipients. By combining lived experience, creative learning, and local resource innovation, participants will design solutions that are practical for their environment. Building on research in Pulau Pari and urban findings from the Ciliwung River, the program merges climate education, women empowerment, and waste innovation into a replicable community-driven model aligned with SDGs 6, 12, and 13.
Expected result
This project is expected to produce tangible environmental outcomes, strengthen community resilience, and contribute to long-term behavioral change in menstrual hygiene management, especially in flood-prone areas of Jakarta. By actively involving participants as co-creators, the initiative ensures that the results are not only impactful but also sustainable and replicable. The expected results are outlined as follows:
1. Reduction in Menstrual Waste Pollution
At least 30 young women in Cililitan will confidently use reusable menstrual pads, resulting in a significant decrease in disposable pad use. Based on average consumption rates, this could prevent an estimated 7,000–9,000 single-use pads from entering the waste stream annually, reducing plastic pollution in rivers and drainage systems that worsen flooding impacts.
2. Locally-produced, affordable menstrual hygiene products
Through participatory workshops, women will learn to design and make reusable pads using locally sourced materials. By the end of the program, participants will be able to produce pads independently, creating a potential community-based microenterprise opportunity that ensures continuous access beyond the project period.
3. Trained peer educators and local changemakers
Participants will be trained as peer educators, equipped to conduct awareness sessions in schools, youth groups, and community gatherings. These peer educators will play a critical role in multiplying the project’s reach, ensuring that knowledge about sustainable menstruation and climate resilience spreads organically within the community.
4. Increased knowledge and preparedness for menstruation during floods
Young women will gain practical strategies for managing menstruation during emergencies when water, sanitation, and privacy are limited. This includes guidance on safe disposal of single-use pads in emergencies, maintaining hygiene without clean water, and preparing personal menstrual kits for flood season.
5. Improved awareness of menstruation–waste–climate linkages
Participants will develop a clear understanding of how menstrual waste contributes to river pollution and climate-related risks. This awareness will extend to the broader community through storytelling, role-play, and visual campaigns, helping shift perceptions of menstruation from a taboo topic to a recognized environmental and public health concern.
6. Strengthened community dialogue and reduced stigma
By creating inclusive, judgment-free spaces for discussion, the project will encourage open conversations between young women, mothers, and community leaders. Over time, this will help dismantle cultural taboos and myths surrounding menstruation, promoting dignity and equality.
7. Replicable model for other flood-prone communities
The participatory action approach, combined with creative learning tools, will result in a tested methodology that can be adapted in other urban and coastal areas affected by flooding. The documentation of processes, challenges, and successes will serve as a practical guide for replication.
8. Contributions to SDGs
This initiative will contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation (improving sanitation in vulnerable areas)
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (reducing single-use waste)
SDG 13: Climate Action (promoting adaptation and resilience in flood-prone communities)
By reframing menstruation as both a water and climate issue, this project highlights the power of youth innovation to solve real, intersectional challenges at the community level.
Partners
About me / organisation
Siti Naziyati Nur Haliza
I am a Public Health graduate from Universitas Indonesia, majoring in epidemiology. I have special concern in climate change, menstrual hygiene, and community health education.
For two years, I was part of Kakak Asuh Depok, contributing to the Education and Competency Division, where I helped design and implement curricula for elementary school children in disadvantaged areas.
I also participated in a six-month reproductive health education project in Bogor, funded by Universitas Indonesia. My role focused on delivering health education to adolescents, equipping them with essential knowledge on reproductive health and empowering them to make informed decisions.
In addition, I contributed to research in Pulau Pari on the intersection of climate change and menstrual hygiene management, in collaboration with several NGOs and supported by external funding. This research highlighted how climate stressors exacerbate challenges in menstrual health, reinforcing my commitment to integrating gender and environmental perspectives in public health solutions.
Through these experiences, I have developed a strong foundation in program implementation, research, and community-based health initiatives. I am eager to contribute to projects that connect public health, gender equity, and climate resilience, ensuring both immediate impact and sustainable change.