Activity Report 2020

PROJECT REPORT INDIA

In 2020, we were able to continue and expand our work and projects of the past years. We continued to supply the students of our now ten selected schools with both disposable and reusable sanitary pads. In view of the Corona pandemic, this became more difficult - the existing distribution structures had to be revised and adapted to new hygiene and safety concepts. In this way, we were able to secure the supply of monthly hygiene products for about 1000 schoolgirls.

Furthermore, all schools integrated in the Kanya's Chance project are located in the Anand district, India. The sanitary napkin distribution to schoolgirls aged 12 to 15 years is now done by the teachers of the respective schools. They distribute the sanitary pads to the female students individually in the school. In exceptional cases, the teacher delivers the sanitary pads to the students' homes.

With the help of the educational materials we have created, we have created a uniform educational programme. The educational materials are available in the students' mother tongue. We organised a workshop for the teachers so that they can now incorporate the materials into their lessons and use them more effectively. 

We as an association are working with the Tribhuvandas Foundation as well as the Rotary Club of Anand Round Town. We purchase the disposable sanitary pads through Tribhuvandas Foundation. This allows us to benefit from a sanitary pad price of around 6€ per student per year (depending on the exchange rate and quantity ordered). Rotary helps us to organise the sanitary pad distribution on site. For the reusable sanitary pads, we work with Unipads to help provide the best possible products that are suitable for the students. The reusable pads cost us 3€ per student per year. 

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

Our Education Team was able to complete and expand some new and old projects in the 2020 calendar year:

BOOKLET

Already in the previous year, Kanya's Chance created its own educational booklet. This booklet is already available free of charge in several languages, e.g. Gujarati. Besides the German, English and French editions, we were able to add a Hindi translation to our series. Other languages are to follow. The aim is to make the booklet available free of charge on our website (kanyaschance.org/booklet) in these languages.

EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION

Based on our booklet, we developed a presentation for educational lessons this year. The focus is currently on Indian schools, which is why we developed the presentation in English and Gujarati. In designing the presentation, we were very keen to keep the design of our booklet, so that our educational series gives a fluid line in terms of content and illustrations. The presentation will be used in supported schools in 2021 as part of the sex education curriculum.

WORLD WOMEN'S DAY 

To mark World Women's Day, Kanya's Chance participated in the "Let's Talk About Periods x Oh Sh*t" event on 7 March. In addition to a book launch ("Period is Political" by Franka Frei) and several short film screenings, there was a panel discussion on the topic of menstruation. Lena Kollertz and Harit Patel represented Kanya's Chance there. They reported on the commitment of Kanya's Chance and were able to emphasise the importance of education in India, but also in Germany. The numerous questions from the very interested audience were wide-ranging and covered topics from international cooperation to the role of women in society.

This enabled us to gain some new members and generate donations. The exchange with the guests present also opened our eyes to many new possibilities.

WORLD MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY

On 28 May 2020, we hosted a live stream on Instagram due to "World Menstrual Hygiene Day". With our four participants, we talked about the topic of "menstrual hygiene" from different angles and aspects. Present were Franka Frei (author - Period is Political), Dr. Jayani Patel (doctor in India), Geeta Solanki (founder Unipads), Jule Schulte (journalist - petition co-initiator " Tamponsteuer"-Senkung) and Lion Weiß (co-founder of Kanya's Chance).

The event was held via Instagram Live in a talk show format. Daniel Froschhammer hosted the evening. Through this online format, we were able to welcome viewers from all over the world and communicate with them in an uncomplicated way, as well as answer their questions directly. 

The aim of the event was to raise awareness of this important, often overlooked topic and to encourage further discourse. 

ONLINE MEDIMEISTERSCHAFTEN 2020

Normally, the MediMeisterschaften Festival takes place every year, at which we have been represented for the last three years as part of the #NURPfand initiative. Here, students from various non-profit organisations collect can and rubbish deposits for a good cause. This campaign has brought in a large part of our donations in the last few years. This year, the event was not possible in physical form, but only as an online event.

Thus, a livestream event was held on 13 June 2020, featuring Kanya's Chance among others. The event offered associations and initiatives the opportunity to present their work. We organised an interactive workshop, which was enjoyed by many enthusiastic participants.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

On 14 July 2020, we held our 4th Annual General Meeting. 13 members attended the general meeting. The membership fee was unanimously increased to twelve euros per year. The increase was justified by the rising administrative costs.

The board elected in 2019 was discharged. After the board elections for 2020, we were able to welcome the following people to their posts:  

1st Chairperson: Lena Kollertz (unanimously elected)

2nd Chairperson: Lion Weiß (unanimously elected)

3rd Treasurer: Philipp Lange (unanimously elected)

4th Secretary: Bianca Laakmann (unanimously elected)

5th Assessor: Rabea Gatz (unanimously elected)

6th Assessor: Ashok Prabhu (unanimously elected)

The Ordinary General Assembly took place in the garden of the Spirale Youth Centre, Berlin, accompanied by music and a meal together afterwards.

ONLINE COOKING COURSE

On 17 November 2020, an online cooking course was held for the first time. Due to the downsized introductory week of the Berlin universities, we introduced ourselves as a working group and association to first semester students with this format.

Lena Kollertz, Meline Meinkoehn and Lena Schindler cooked dhal with naan and gave a short introduction to our work as an association.

KANYA'S CHANCE x FRISCHE SHIRTS

Last year, Kanya's Chance was able to realise a T-shirt cooperation with Frische Shirts, a small Berlin based clothing label. Together they found a suitable print motif, which was screen-printed onto sustainably produced t-shirts.

25% of the proceeds of the T-shirts were donated to Kanya's Chance. The t-shirts can still be ordered via Instagram at @frischetshirts.

WEBINAR: EDUCATING MHM EFFECTIVELY 

In preparation for our next project, where we will expand our work to 200 schools, we are placing special emphasis on good education. As a first step, we held a webinar on 3 December 2020. There we presented our educational materials and an Indian gynaecologist explained the contents to the teachers.  Furthermore, the latest pedagogical methods and innovative games could be gone through together with the teachers to ensure a well-structured sex education in a relaxed, shame-free atmosphere for teachers and students.

This webinar was also planned together with the relevant school authority so that as many teachers as possible could participate.
The educational materials were made available to teachers and can be adapted for each school. They currently consist of a booklet, presentations and educational books. 

An additional knowledge game adapted to the previous materials is planned for 2021.