The Purple Room Initiative seeks to restore dignity, comfort, and confidence to approximately 250 female students at Ricks Institute through improved menstrual health care. Many of the girls come from low-income families and lack access to basic sanitary products, leading to school absenteeism and decreased academic performance during their menstrual cycles.
The project will create a safe, hygienic, and private space called The Purple Room located within the Ricks Institute Clinic. It will be equipped with showers, a toilet, and a sink for girls to use during their menstrual periods. The room will be stocked monthly with menstrual pads, towels, and undergarments to support girls’ health and well-being.
The color purple symbolizes dignity and resilience, and notably 99% of menstrual pads used in Liberia are purple – making the name both practical and symbolic.
Project Objectives
- Ensure menstrual hygiene access by providing sanitary pads to approximately 250 girls.
- Create a safe and comfortable space for menstrual care within the Ricks Institute Clinic.
- Promote school attendance and confidence among female students.
- Foster community awareness and long-term sustainability through Baptist Women’s partnership and continued local support.
Anticipated Impact
Short-term impact:
- 250 girls gain access to menstrual hygiene products and facilities.
- Improved comfort, dignity, and school attendance during menstrual cycles.
- Immediate reduction in the use of unsafe substitutes such as tissues or rags.
Long-term impact:
- Enhanced self-esteem and academic participation among girls.
- Sustainable hygiene culture on campus.
- Strengthened partnership between global and local Baptist women’s organizations.
Beneficiaries
- Direct: Approximately 250 female students, ages 10–18.
- Indirect: Visiting mothers and women who may use the facility when at Ricks Institute.
Your Support Changes Lives
The Purple Room Initiative embodies the compassion and mission of Baptist Women around the world to empower, uplift, and restore dignity to women and girls. Through your support, 250 young girls will experience the joy of learning without shame, the comfort of proper hygiene and health care, and the confidence to reach their God-given potential. Thank you for your support!