Rato Baltin project against chhaupadi in Nepal
In Achham, in western Nepal, there are girls who die every year during menstruation.
They die alone, in sheds or animal shelters, forced out of their homes.
Some die from the cold.
Others from snake bites.
Others from infections.Many of these deaths are never reported.
They are hidden.Because they are part of a tradition that still continues today: chhaupadi.
When a girl gets her period, she is no longer considered pure.
She cannot enter her home.
She cannot touch anyone.
She cannot go to school.She sleeps outside. Alone. Afraid.
And she grows up believing that her body is a problem.
This is not culture. This is violence.
And the most dangerous part is that it is often not questioned.
But when a girl understands her body,
when she has an alternative,
when someone tells her she is not impure,something changes.
Rato Baltin works from within communities to break this silence.
We go into schools.
We speak with girls.
Also with boys.
With teachers.
With community leaders.And we offer a real alternative: information, support, and access to safe menstrual products such as menstrual cups.
Global impact of the Rato Baltin project up to 2026:
- 105,931 people have taken part in our projects
- 5,835 girls are currently using menstrual cups in Achham
But there are still girls who, this very month, will sleep outside their homes.
There are still girls who will be afraid.
And there are still some who will not survive.
You can help change this.
With your support:
- we can reach one more school
- we can train more girls
- we can prevent another girl from spending the night alone outside