Youth Planet is a youth-led organization committed to advancing gender equality, reproductive health, digital literacy, cyber safety, and youth empowerment in Bangladesh. Established in 2018 and officially registered with the Department of Youth Development in 2021 (Reg. No: DYD/121), Youth Planet works to create safer, healthier, and more inclusive communities through education, advocacy, and grassroots engagement. Its student wing, SCaRSV (Students Community Against Rape and Sexual Violence)-active since 2014-continues to play a significant role in combating gender-based violence (GBV) and promoting youth leadership.

Through its initiatives, Youth Planet provides menstrual and puberty health education, promotes the production and use of reusable sanitary pads, enhances media and digital literacy, and leads capacity-building programs for both rural and urban youth. The organization actively engages women, adolescents, minority groups, and marginalized communities to strengthen awareness, build skills, and expand access to essential rights and services.

Mission

To empower young people-especially girls and women-to safely access information, uphold their rights, and build healthier, more equitable communities through education, advocacy, and skill-based learning.

Vision

A society where all young people can exercise their rights freely and lead safe, healthy, and empowered lives with dignity and equality.

Key Initiatives

Youth Planet implements a diverse set of programs across multiple districts, including:

• Girls’ Talk - workshops on puberty and menstrual health
• Free Certification Courses on menstrual hygiene management and women's rights
• My Pad, My Authority - reusable pad training and menstrual hygiene awareness
• Let’s Talk About Period - engaging boys and men in reproductive health education
• School Camp Against GBV - empowering students against gender stereotypes and violence
• Girls’ Squad - youth-led activism against child marriage
• Youth Empowerment Training certified by the Department of Youth Development

Collaborative Impact & National Engagement

Youth Planet contributes to national and global initiatives through strategic partnerships:

• HELP (Harassment Elimination Literacy Program) - Advocacy partner in an EU-funded project promoting women’s safety in public spaces through a mobile-based reporting system.
• Our Voice, Our Choice (OVOC) - Partnering with Plan International and Article 19 to promote youth civic engagement and menstrual health awareness.
• Shomotay Tarunno (Youth for Equality) - Supporting gender equality and digital literacy through community-driven youth actions, funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands.
• USAID Bijoyee Project - Strengthening youth leadership, civic participation, and human rights awareness across Bangladesh.
• Solution Hunt 2.0 - Delivering menstrual health education within the marginalized Hajong Indigenous community, supported by Jaago Foundation and the Embassy of France.

Partnership with the Embassy of France

Youth Planet is honored to collaborate with the Embassy of France in Bangladesh on a flagship initiative focused on youth capacity building and menstrual health education. On 8th October, Youth Planet formally signed an MoU with Mr. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh, in the presence of A B M Mahmodul Hasan, Executive Director of Youth Planet.

With its youth-driven leadership, community-rooted approach, and strong national and international partnerships, Youth Planet remains committed to building a safer, healthier, and more equitable future for all.

Here is my abstract paper, which has been selected for the Global SDG Youth Summit 2025. Below is the revised version of the paper.

 Title 

Youth-Led Approaches to Improve Menstrual Health: A Community-Based Study in Rural Bangladesh

Author: A B M Mahmodul Hasan
Affiliation: Youth Planet
Country: Bangladesh
Email: shibleebinhamid@gmail.com
Phone: +8801916625532

Background

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) remains a critical but under-addressed aspect of sexual and reproductive health in rural Bangladesh. While national pad usage increased from 14% in 2014 to 38% in 2024, millions of women and girls continue to rely on unhygienic methods due to affordability, limited access, taboos, and inadequate awareness. Unsafe practices-such as improper cloth washing and disposal-pose health risks and environmental hazards. Addressing these issues requires community-driven, culturally sensitive interventions focused on behavior change and social norms.

Methodology

This study evaluated a youth-driven menstrual hygiene management (MHM) initiative implemented by Youth Planet in Purbo Darila, Nandail, Mymensingh since 2021. The intervention employed a multi-component approach, including school sessions, household visits, peer group discussions, community workshops, and reusable pad-making sessions in line with UNICEF guidelines. Activities engaged adolescent girls, women, male family members, and teachers to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and normalize sanitary pad use, with special emphasis on intergenerational dialogue and inclusive family participation. Continuous community feedback ensured that interventions remained culturally appropriate and responsive to local needs.

Program impact was assessed through a structured survey of 975 women aged 9–50 years, grouped into 9–18, 18–35, and 35–50 age categories. Data were collected on menstrual product usage, hygiene practices, disposal methods, sources of knowledge, and family communication patterns. Cloth hygiene was classified as adequate if washed with soap and dried in sunlight, with all other practices considered unhygienic. Disposal methods were also documented. Survey findings were compared with national statistics and baseline observations. Qualitative insights from focus group discussions, school observations, and community feedback added depth and context to the quantitative findings.

Key Findings

• Product use: 47.15% used sanitary pads; 52.85% used old fabric.
• Age variation: Pad usage was 68.9% (ages 9-18), 50.5% (ages 18-35), and 14.5% (ages 35-50).
• Cloth hygiene: 47% of fabric users practiced hygienic washing and drying.
• Disposal: Hygienic disposal increased from just 1-2% to 33%.
• Barriers: Affordability (31.7%), social stigma (7.6%), and discomfort in requesting products (1.9%).
• Knowledge source: 64.1% learned about menstruation from family members.

Overall, pad usage rose by 20% over three years, while safe disposal practices improved dramatically. These changes reflect growing awareness, reduced stigma, and normalization of hygienic practices-though challenges remain.

Lessons

This study highlights the effectiveness of youth-led, community-based strategies in advancing MHM in low-resource settings. Peer-led “girls’ talks,” reusable pad workshops, and male engagement reduced stigma, built knowledge, and encouraged inclusive family discussions. Adaptive, feedback-driven implementation proved vital for cultural sensitivity.

The initiative offers a replicable model for scaling menstrual health programs in Bangladesh and beyond. Future priorities include strengthening school-based education, expanding reusable pad initiatives, and establishing long-term monitoring frameworks to track behavior change and youth leadership outcomes.