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Take Action of The Desai Foundation

Take Action

Host a Cocktails + Chaat Party

All you need are 20 of your friends, drinks, and some chaat! We’ll provide the Desai Foundation materials!
Toolkit

Host a Cocktails + Chaat Party

Donate Your Birthday

Donate Your Birthday

Creating a birthday campaign is a piece of cake.
Have your friends & family give the gift of
health & livelihood!
Get Started

PLEDGE YOUR PERIOD

We invite you to #PledgeYourPeriod
to provide girls in rural India with access to
menstrual health products. Make a donation
& share the message of why YOU pledge your period!" Take The Pledge

PLEDGE YOUR PERIOD

PLEDGE YOUR PERIOD

Volunteer

Volunteer

We are always looking for volunteers to contribute their time, ideas and energy to our causes. If you are interested, please email info@thedesaifoundation.org
Email Us

Intern

Our internship program provides opportunities for students and recent graduates to enhance their abilities while receiving the satisfaction of contributing to a greater cause. We encourage talented and motivated students and recent graduates to submit their cover letter and resume to info@thedesaifoundation.org or
Apply

Intern

Connect with us

Connect with us

The Desai Foundation
209 Burlington Rd, Suite 217
Bedford, MA 01730

info@thedesaifoundation.org
(781) 270-3655

The Desai Foundation

Desai Foundation

Friday February 26th

Meet Kajal, one of the thousands of women we’ve served through our health and hygiene programs which focus on areas such as gynecology, vision/eye care, and general medical check ups. Thanks to our support, many women such as Kajal have been able to to receive FREE treatment for their health concerns. Follow the link in our bio to learn more and donate to this program. .#desaifoundation #womensempowerment #socialcauses #fundraising #india #vocationalprograms ... See MoreSee Less

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Desai Foundation

Monday February 22nd

Period Poverty is not just an issue abroad. In the United States, 1 in 10 college students experience period poverty each month - and among bleeders who are the first in their family to attend college, the rate is 1 in 5 (according to a recent study conducted by BMC Women’s Health). .We are dedicated to illustrating that a period is a natural bodily function and should never cause economic or emotional strain. We have distributed over 450,000 pads for free in rural India since the start of the pandemic and continue to fight period poverty by producing high-quality, low-cost pads through our Asani Sanitary Napkin program. .We must continue to talk about periods and work together to ensure that a period never keeps a woman or girl out of work or school! .#endperiodpoverty #periodsarenormal #menstrualhygiene #womenshealth #womensempowerment #keepgirlsinschool #desaifoundation ... See MoreSee Less

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Desai Foundation

Saturday February 20th

Today, on world day of social justice, we stand with the UN in the fight to achieve social justice, which is the idea of peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We do so through our community-based programs which provide women and children in rural India and the US the tools they need to thrive at every stage of their lives. Follow the link in our bio to learn more and donate now!.#socialjustice #dayofsocialjustice #womensrights #womensempowerment #womenshealth #livelihood #childrenshealth #education #livelihood #india #desaifoundation ... See MoreSee Less

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Desai Foundation

Friday February 19th

Thank you to @officialhumansofbombay for sharing this powerful story from @sukarmafoundation .“I come from a village in MP. I was in a government school that only taught till the 8th standard; most girls would drop out to be married after. We had no toilets. I was 12 when I got my period; my mother made me wear a cloth pad. When I asked her why I was bleeding, she said she didn’t know. I developed vaginal infections & began giving off a terrible odor too. The local doctors were clueless, so I just lived with it. I completed my schooling & fortunately, my parents wanted me to focus on my education. They took loans to send me to college; I studied biochemistry & got a job at a hospital. It was there that I used a pad for the first time; I was 26. I told my colleague–‘I want to learn how to wear it.’ She taught me & even got my infections treated. I could work far more comfortably! But, when I’d visit my parents, I was appalled to see no progress in our village. Women still struggled with their menstrual hygiene. So, I went door-to-door encouraging women to use pads. The women were so shy, especially in front of men–only when they were alone, would they whisper their menstrual issues in my ear. They’d say–‘We don’t interact with anyone or cook until our period stops’. Most of them had never seen a pad before! The few who had said, ‘We can’t afford them.’Through my campaigns, I met Arunachalam Muruganantham, The Padman. He told me, ‘Start your own factory & educate more women.’ And so in 2016, I started ‘The Sukarma Foundation’ & hired women from my village to teach households how to use pads. Today, we transport 50000 pads per month to 22 districts in MP!I dropped the price to Rs 5 for a box of pads; that’s when women began flocking to my factory. A girl once hugged me & said, ‘I never realized why I’d stink before. It was because I was wearing the same cloth pad!’ As the women regularly started using pads, that's all they wanted to use! It took 3 years, but today I can proudly say that every woman in my village uses pads! In fact, when I teach in schools, grown men sit in my classes to learn too! ... See MoreSee Less

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Desai Foundation is in Siesta Key, Florida.

Friday February 19th

Thanks to @officialhumansofbombay for sharing this powerful story and to @sukarmafoundation for the important work they do! .Repost from @officialhumansofbombay•Original caption ... See MoreSee Less

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The Desai Foundation Follow

Desai Foundation @DesaiFoundation·

Thank you @HumansOfBombay for sharing this powerful story - and to the @sukarmango for the important work they do around menstrual hygiene awareness.

#menstrualhygiene #WomensHealth #endperiodpoverty

Reply on Twitter 1362855655338610688 Retweet on Twitter 1362855655338610688 Like on Twitter 1362855655338610688 Twitter 1362855655338610688

Desai Foundation @DesaiFoundation·

We are so thrilled that, since November, we’ve been able to re-start our computer classes at Shantaben Vidhyabhavan (with all necessary safety precautions). Each class lasts for a 2 month period with 15 students at a time and teaches valuable digital literacy skills! #fridaywins

Reply on Twitter 1357747699261538304 Retweet on Twitter 13577476992615383041 Like on Twitter 1357747699261538304 Twitter 1357747699261538304

Desai Foundation @DesaiFoundation·

We are so proud of the efforts made in the villages of Vansda and Mandvi, where 6 Menstrual Hygiene Management awareness sessions have been held in Dec 2020 for 77 beneficiaries! This year, we hope to continue our educational projects in order to promote healthy periods for all.

Reply on Twitter 1352662962012622848 Retweet on Twitter 1352662962012622848 Like on Twitter 13526629620126228481 Twitter 1352662962012622848

The Desai Foundation

Period Poverty is not just an issue abroad. In the

Period Poverty is not just an issue abroad. In the United States, 1 in 10 college students experience period poverty each month - and among bleeders who are the first in their family to attend college, the rate is 1 in 5 (according to a recent study conducted by BMC Women’s Health).
.
We are dedicated to illustrating that a period is a natural bodily function and should never cause economic or emotional strain. We have distributed over 450,000 pads for free in rural India since the start of the pandemic and continue to fight period poverty by producing high-quality, low-cost pads through our Asani Sanitary Napkin program.
.
We must continue to talk about periods and work together to ensure that a period never keeps a woman or girl out of work or school!
.
#endperiodpoverty #periodsarenormal #menstrualhygiene #womenshealth #womensempowerment #keepgirlsinschool #desaifoundation

Today, on world day of social justice, we stand wi

Today, on world day of social justice, we stand with the UN in the fight to achieve social justice, which is the idea of peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We do so through our community-based programs which provide women and children in rural India and the US the tools they need to thrive at every stage of their lives. Follow the link in our bio to learn more and donate now!
.
#socialjustice #dayofsocialjustice #womensrights #womensempowerment #womenshealth #livelihood #childrenshealth #education #livelihood #india #desaifoundation

Thank you to @officialhumansofbombay for sharing t

Thank you to @officialhumansofbombay for sharing this powerful story from @sukarmafoundation
.
“I come from a village in MP. I was in a government school that only taught till the 8th standard; most girls would drop out to be married after. We had no toilets. I was 12 when I got my period; my mother made me wear a cloth pad. When I asked her why I was bleeding, she said she didn’t know.
I developed vaginal infections & began giving off a terrible odor too. The local doctors were clueless, so I just lived with it. I completed my schooling & fortunately, my parents wanted me to focus on my education. They took loans to send me to college; I studied biochemistry & got a job at a hospital.
It was there that I used a pad for the first time; I was 26. I told my colleague–‘I want to learn how to wear it.’ She taught me & even got my infections treated. I could work far more comfortably! But, when I’d visit my parents, I was appalled to see no progress in our village.
Women still struggled with their menstrual hygiene. So, I went door-to-door encouraging women to use pads. The women were so shy, especially in front of men–only when they were alone, would they whisper their menstrual issues in my ear.
They’d say–‘We don’t interact with anyone or cook until our period stops’. Most of them had never seen a pad before! The few who had said, ‘We can’t afford them.’
Through my campaigns, I met Arunachalam Muruganantham, The Padman. He told me, ‘Start your own factory & educate more women.’ And so in 2016, I started ‘The Sukarma Foundation’ & hired women from my village to teach households how to use pads. Today, we transport 50000 pads per month to 22 districts in MP!
I dropped the price to Rs 5 for a box of pads; that’s when women began flocking to my factory. A girl once hugged me & said, ‘I never realized why I’d stink before. It was because I was wearing the same cloth pad!’ As the women regularly started using pads, that's all they wanted to use!
It took 3 years, but today I can proudly say that every woman in my village uses pads! In fact, when I teach in schools, grown men sit in my classes to learn too!

This President's day, we’re acknowledging that d

This President's day, we’re acknowledging that despite some progress, menstrual hygiene products are still taxed in 30 states. We hope the US may catch up with other countries like the UK and Scotland, who have respectively passed nationwide legislation to end the ‘tampon tax’ and ensure access to free menstrual hygiene supplies for those in need. .
#presidentsday #womenssempowerment #menstrualhygiene #endperiodpoverty #desaifoundation

Will you be our GAL-entine? Known as a day for "l

Will you be our GAL-entine?
Known as a day for "ladies celebrating ladies", this Galentine’s Day, we would like to gift one of our followers with a beautiful Payal Singhal x Desai Foundation product as a thank you for spreading the word about our work to elevate the health and livelihood of women and children in rural India and the US. In order to participate:
- Follow @DesaiFoundation on Instagram & Facebook
- Like this post and tag a least 3 of your favorite ladies
- Share in your story as well for an increased chance to win. You must post by midnight on Sunday February 14th. Only open to those with a US mailing address. Winner will be selected at random and contacted via DM for their mailing address. If address isn’t provided within 2 days, the prize will go to the next eligible participant. .
#desaifoundation #galentines #galentinesday #education #womensempowerment #socialcauses #fundraising #india

Let’s make 2021 the year that no girl misses sch

Let’s make 2021 the year that no girl misses school because of her period! Based on a study of 600 girls in Delhi, 40% missed school because of their periods, due to lack of education around proper menstrual hygiene and lack of access to period products and private toilets - all fueled by antiquated stigmas about menstruation. Through our Asani Sanitary Napkin program, we are working to normalize periods, fight period stigma and ensure that every girl has the knowledge and products she needs for a healthy period — and a brighter future. Follow the link in our bio to learn more and donate to this program. .
#menstrualmonday #endperiodpoverty #periodsdontstopforpandemics #asanisanitarynapkin #endperiodshame #girlsempowerment #womensempowerment #india

We are so thrilled that, since November, we’ve b

We are so thrilled that, since November, we’ve been able to re-start our computer classes at Shantaben Vidhyabhavan, following all necessary safety precautions. Each class lasts for a 2 month period with 15 students at a time and teaches valuable digital literacy skills to help advance personal, educational, and professional development. .
#desaifoundation #education #womensempowerment #socialcauses #fundraising #india #vocationalprograms

We are very excited to have been able to re-start

We are very excited to have been able to re-start some of our beauty parlor classes, with extra health precautions. Since late November, we have held 3 sessions for 30 women each, teaching them employable skills so that they can earn a living and even open their own business, as some of our past beneficiaries have done. Learn more about and donate to our vocational skills programs by visiting the link in our bio.
.
#desaifoundation #livelihood #womensempowerment #socialcauses #fundraising #india #beauty #vocationalprograms #femaleentrepreneurs

As an organization, one of our top priorities is s

As an organization, one of our top priorities is spreading educational resources about menstruation management in our target communities. This is why we are so proud of the efforts made in the villages of Vansda and Mandvi, in which 6 Menstrual Hygiene Management awareness sessions have been held in December 2020 for a total of 77 beneficiaries! This year, we hope to continue our educational projects in order to promote healthy periods for all. .
#fridaywins #philanthropy #menstruationeducation #socialcauses #dogood
#womensempowerment #fundraising #india

We are so grateful to @ChaiMommas and @UnitySME fo

We are so grateful to @ChaiMommas and @UnitySME for their fundraiser over the holiday season, which resulted in us being able to distribute dental hygiene kits to over 700 children in rural India! Each kit contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, tongue cleaner, toothbrush tracker, a dental care booklet and a face mask. We were also able to provide dental care awareness sessions to small groups of children during the distribution. .
#fridaywins #philanthropy #socialcauses #dogood
#womensempowerment #fundraising #india #childrenshealth #dentalhygiene

One of the most important harvest days in India, t

One of the most important harvest days in India, the festival of Uttarayan marks the day when winter begins to turn into summer, signaling to farmers that the harvest season is approaching. In Gujarat, kites fill the skies as whole families gather on the rooftops to compete against their neighbors. We wish you a high-flying harvest and abundant season ahead!
.
#uttarayan #harvest #india #MakarSankranti #gujarat #kitefestival #desaifoundation

According to a recent U-Report poll of 3,910 girls

According to a recent U-Report poll of 3,910 girls and young women from 160 countries, menstrual hygiene management has become a key issue for many women and girls during the pandemic. This is why we have been working to distribute our Asani Sanitary Napkins free of charge to the women in rural India who need them most, during this Pandemic and beyond. Click the link in our bio to learn more and make a difference by donating to this program. @WASHUnited @menstrualhygieneday .
#menstrualmonday #endperiodpoverty #periodsdontstopforpandemics #asanisanitarynapkin #endperiodshame #girlsempowerment #womensempowerment #india

2020 was a wild ride, but we’re looking forward

2020 was a wild ride, but we’re looking forward to a better and brighter 2021! Here are just a few things we’re looking forward to in the New Year: **Expanding our Board - direct message us if you have a great candidate!** **Expanding our Asani Sanitary Napkin Program to new states in India** **Ensuring our Health & Hygiene programs reach as many people as possible - especially during this critical time** **Connecting with you through campaigns like Pledge Your Period and events like Diwali on the Hudson & the Lotus Festival**
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.
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#desaifoundation #womensempowerment #womenshealth #childrenshealth #livelihood #india #happynewyear #2021

If you still need to wrap up your holiday shopping

If you still need to wrap up your holiday shopping - check out these amazing holiday gifts from some of our favorite brands. We are so grateful that @inkidzco is donating 20% of their sales to us this holiday season, and 5% of every sale of a Gujarati toy from @theheritagesupplyco will go toward helping the women and children we serve in rural India. So you can do some good while checking off everyone on your list 🙂 @pajamasutra @ranavat @moditoys @shopsoothi @playosmo @desigalli

Despite the challenges this year has presented, we

Despite the challenges this year has presented, we are so proud of the many things we’ve been able to accomplish in 2020, including not laying off any employees and getting a new Asani Sanitary Napkin unit up and running in Rajasthan! Just through the end of the day today, all new monthly donations will be TRIPLED thanks to @GlobalGiving - so make sure to follow the link in our bio to have your donation help create three times as many pads, masks & vocational opportunities to the women who need them most! .
#globalgiving #womensempowerment
#menstrualhygiene

This giving season, give women in rural India the

This giving season, give women in rural India the awareness, education and products they need for a healthy period by donating to our Asani Sanitary Napkin program. This week only, become a new monthly donor for as little as $10/month and you will be helping us provide necessary menstrual hygiene awareness, education and products to 60 women for the 1st month, and to 40 women every month thereafter, thanks to the @GlobalGiving monthly donor drive campaign.* Sign up here: https://bit.ly/GG_Asani *All new monthly donations are tripled for the 1st month and then doubled thereafter. Monthly plan must be active for at least 4 months in order to qualify for the triple match .
#globalgiving #womensempowerment #menstrualhygiene #menstrualeducation #asani

What does $15/month buy you? For next week only, w

What does $15/month buy you? For next week only, when you sign up as a new MONTHLY donor on @globalgiving , all donations are TRIPLED* so that just $15 will fund the production of 720 pads for women in rural India, who might not otherwise have access to proper menstrual hygiene products. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/GG_Asani *All new monthly donations are tripled for the 1st month and then doubled thereafter. Monthly plan must be active for at least 4 months in order to qualify for the triple match

Thanks to your support of our #givingbacktowomen f

Thanks to your support of our #givingbacktowomen for #givingtuesday campaign, we EXCEEDED our goal and will be able to produce 1 million more life-saving face masks (in addition to the 700,000 already produced), simultaneously providing even more livelihood opportunities for women in rural India. Thank you also to our friends at @ranavat @pajamasutra @shopsoothi @theheritagesupplyco @menstrual.movement @inkidzco and @rukusavenueradio for making this possible!

It saddens us to know that, of the total $396.5 bi

It saddens us to know that, of the total $396.5 billion given in charitable donations in the US in 2016, only 1.6% of that was given to philanthropic organizations which benefit women and girls. But TODAY, you have the power to help us change that by choosing to give back to women in honor of Giving Tuesday and donate to our Masks of HOPE initiative. Over the past few weeks, we have introduced you to Rupali, Sheetal, Anjana and Anitka, who are just a few of the women your donation will be helping to gain and maintain their financial independence, while also giving back to their communities. Donate now at bit.ly/giveback2women
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#givingbacktowomen #givingtuesday #ranavat #womancrushwednesday #womensempowerment #livelihood #india #masksofhope

Having no prior experience in sewing, Anitka joine

Having no prior experience in sewing, Anitka joined our 8-week sewing training from November 2019 to January of this year. Because of the skills she learned in the class, she was able to join our Masks of HOPE program and is now financially responsible for her family of 4. She is also helping our team implement the program on a larger scale so that even more women can benefit from the opportunity. In honor of Giving Tuesday tomorrow, we invite you to share below about a woman who has inspired you over the past 8 months. And give back to women like Anitka, whose strength & perseverance has been an inspiration to us all, by donating to the Desai Foundation. Through tomorrow, all donations will be TRIPLED thanks to @ranavat @shopsoothi and @pajamasutra ! Follow the link in our bio to donate now.

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