63 MILLION
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About S.H.E.
S.H.E. stands for sanitation, hygiene, and education for all. We engage schools, communities, and local authorities to increase awareness about clean toilets, the safety of women and children, and safe menstrual hygiene practices.
Increased social safety for women and girls
Reduced risk to women's health
Reduced school drop-out rate among girls
Increased awareness about menstrual health management
Improved and increased accessibility to public toilets.
How It Started
Archana KR, experienced first hand the dire lack of proper sanitation facilities during her schooling years in a government school. Later as an activist, she observed concerning conditions: inadequate government funding for toilet upkeep, widespread unawareness of hygienic practices, and a prevalence of open defecation. Archana identified the disproportionate impact on women and girls, who lacked safe spaces for menstrual hygiene and defecation.
Driven by her grassroots efforts, Archana has bridged the gap between policy, government officials, and the community, significantly impacting lives and advocating for change. Since its inception in 2018, SHE has become a beacon of hope, empowering communities with access to essential education and facilities for improved hygiene and sanitation.
Our Partners
1 GEN SOCIAL INNOVATION LABS
Collaborations
21% of schools in India do not have functional toilets. 18.9% school do not have a functional toilet for girls
Nearly 23% of girls drop out of school when they start menstruating due to a lack of a hygienic environment, toilets and running water to safely manage their period.
In Karnataka, 1495 government schools do not have a functional toilet for girls.
What Drives Us
Only 12% of women use sanitary napkins during menstruation. 88% are forced to rely on cloth, ashes, and husk sand which puts them at a high level of risk of infections and other health problems.
The percentage of schools that have a running water facility has reduced to 69% (2022) from 77% (2018).
