About us
Established in 2011, Panties with Purpose is an independent, informal campaign to help girls with menstrual hygiene management.
Most of us never think about what we can’t see. We take things for granted. We don’t talk about issues that are gender sensitive & culturally taboo. If they don’t affect us, they don’t matter. Panties with Purpose is a campaign to raise awareness about the inside story.
Underprivileged adolescent school girls living in the rural and poor urban parts of the world, including Kenya, lack access to basic hygiene products such as undergarments and sanitary towels (UNICEF, 2005) during their menstrual cycle.
Change begins with basics
When a girl has access to basic hygiene products the following happen:
her health
improves as her chances of contracting infections is reduced;
her self-esteem
confidence and dignity increases;
her attendance
at school improves;
her chances
of success are enhanced;
her self-respect
the importance of self-preservation with regard to health is increased, as is her bodily awareness.
What we aim to do
Raise awareness
about the problem faced by underprivileged school girls.
Assist school girls
with panties (undergarments) and sanitary towels and facilitate education on menstrual hygiene.
Break cultural taboos
by getting people to talk about menstrual hygiene management.
Show that health and hygiene
are not gender issues but a human dignity and rights issue.
Start the process of change
with provision of basic feminine hygiene products.
The campaign
Our partners
Since 2011, we have operated with help from universities, schools, corporates, family and friends. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed. In particular, we would like to thank and acknowledge the following:
Anne Small and Friends, LLP
GEMS Cambridge International School, Kenya
Braeburn International Schools, East Africa
The London School of Economics, London
Institute of Education, UCL, London
University of Southern Mississippi
North Seattle Community College
Seattle Central College
Ramgarhia Youth Sikh Association
An international campaign
Our campaign is truly international, and we are proud to have received support from the following cities and regions.
London, Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa, Kampala, Arusha, Toronto, Calgary, Florida, Geneva, Washington DC, Dubai, Hong Kong, Haarlem (Netherlands), Manchester, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Houston, Sydney, Johannesburg, New Brunswick, Iceland, Chicago, Edmonton, Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro, Dar-es Salaam, Vancouver, Alba (Italy), Lisbon
Since 2011 we have given
66,833 pairs of pants to
19,097 girls in
166 locations
A detailed breakdown of partners and distribution locations is available on request