Empowering Girls Through Menstrual Health Education

In Bhola District, adolescent girls and young women continue to face stigma, silence, and misinformation around menstruation, undermining their dignity, health, and opportunities. Stop the Stigma, implemented by SAJIDA Foundation in collaboration with Plan International Bangladesh and funded by the Swedish Postcode Lottery, is breaking these barriers and equipping girls aged 10–24 to manage their health with confidence.

Breaking Barriers, Creating Impact

• 40,000 people reached, including 19,890 adolescent girls and young women.
• Peer leaders and educators trained to deliver accurate menstrual health information.
• Women entrepreneurs supported to expand community access to affordable menstrual products.
• Digital knowledge platform launched to tackle stigma and spread awareness.
• 5,850 boys, men, parents, and caregivers engaged through campaigns and dialogue sessions.
• Local government officials sensitized to allocate budgets for menstrual health, including emergency sanitary pad provision.

Charting the Path Ahead

By breaking stigma, expanding access to menstrual products, and embedding menstrual health into schools, households, and government systems, Stop the Stigma is shaping a future where every girl can thrive, where dignity, education, and opportunity are never held back by barriers related to menstrual hygiene management.

Transforming Worker Well-Being Through Safe Water and Hygiene

SAJIDA Foundation’s WASH4RMG initiative delivers a comprehensive approach to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector. The program improves worker well-being while ensuring sustainable water solutions for factories, integrating hygiene awareness, infrastructure development, and water conservation measures to build healthier communities and more resilient industrial operations.

Expanding Access for Workers

• Construction of WASH facilities in worker communities and schools.
• Hygiene awareness programs promoting improved practices, including safe menstrual hygiene management (MHM).

Driving Sustainability in Factories

• Awareness campaigns on safe WASH and MHM for factory workers.
• Installation of handwashing stations inside factory premises to strengthen workplace hygiene.
• Implementation of rainwater harvesting systems across seven factory rooftops, reducing dependence on groundwater and securing long-term water sustainability.

Breaking New Ground in Health and Sustainability

• 231 WASH facilities constructed, supporting workers and surrounding communities.
• 52,900+ workers benefited from improved hygiene facilities and awareness programs.
• 316,000 sq. ft. of factory rooftop catchment utilised for rainwater harvesting, embedding sustainable water management into operations.

Building Resilient Workplaces for the Future

By combining worker-focused health interventions with factory-level sustainability practices, WASH4RMG is creating safer, healthier environments for workers and pioneering climate-smart water management in Bangladesh’s most vital industry.

Building Inclusive WASH Systems for Bangladesh’s Urban Poor

In Bangladesh’s fast-growing cities, the urban poor face some of the greatest barriers to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). To address these systemic gaps, SAJIDA Foundation, together with WaterAid, SIDA, and Reckitt Benckiser, is implementing WASH4UrbanPoor and the SNS-Harpic Project (April 2023–March 2026). These integrated initiatives place gender equity, public health, and community empowerment at the center of urban WASH transformation.

Mobilizing Communities Through Awareness

Dynamic, participatory campaigns aligned with World Water Day, Global Handwashing Day, and dengue prevention drives have engaged thousands of residents in conversations on safe sanitation, hygiene, and disease prevention.

Strengthening Local Leadership and Safeguards

• 40 gender and safeguarding focal points trained, equipping community stakeholders to ensure equity, protection, and responsiveness in WASH programming.
• Four local hygiene entrepreneurs developed, creating new livelihoods while promoting clean, safe practices.

Transforming Access Through Infrastructure

• Two WASH blocks with MHM facilities constructed in schools, providing privacy, dignity, and safety for girls.
• 43 previously illegal water connections formalized, restoring equitable access and accountability for marginalized households.
• 11 public toilets now serving over 2 million users, designed with special provisions for women, commuters, and persons with limited access. Free services for daily commuters are reducing financial barriers to sanitation.

Pioneering Inclusive WASH Models for Urban Bangladesh

By combining awareness, local capacity building, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure development, WASH4UrbanPoor is creating an inclusive WASH model for urban Bangladesh, one that safeguards dignity, strengthens health, and empowers communities to build more resilient futures.