For over a decade, Reaching Hand has been a catalyst for community empowerment. Through our flagship initiative, Girls Glory, we’ve equipped thousands of adolescent girls with the knowledge and tools to lead healthier, more dignified lives. At the heart of this effort lies a simple but powerful truth: hygiene is not a luxury—it’s a right.
As the adage goes, “Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings.” In underserved communities, however, access to hygiene education and infrastructure remains uneven. That’s why our programs focus on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH)—ensuring that every child, regardless of background, understands the importance of cleanliness, disease prevention and personal dignity.
What We Do: Building Habits, Infrastructure and Hope
Our WaSH workshops in government schools go beyond awareness—they build agency. Children learn:
- How to safely and respectfully use public restrooms
- The importance of handwashing and personal hygiene
- How to prevent waterborne illnesses through simple daily practices
- Oral hygiene as a gateway to overall health
For adolescent girls, we conduct targeted menstrual hygiene sessions that address:
- Safe disposal of menstrual waste
- Breaking myths and taboos around menstruation
- Cleanliness and self-care during periods
Each session ends with a read-aloud from Menstrupedia, a comic book that makes menstrual education accessible and engaging. These sessions spark dialogue, reduce stigma, and foster leadership.
Infrastructure That Enables Change
Under Girls Glory, the year 24- 25 we’ve Constructed 76 units of gender segregated toilets in 17 Government schools in Udupi, Mandya and Bangalore districts, benefitting 4990 boys and girls.
These toilet rooms are equipped with overhead water tank, hand wash unit and toiletry kits. The beneficiary schools were also assisted to hire janitors to maintain toilets clean and hygienic.
This isn’t just a number. It’s a ripple effect: when one child gains access to sanitation, a school becomes safer and a community moves closer to health equity.
Leadership in Action: Riya’s Story
Riya, a student from a government school, once believed she couldn’t enter the kitchen during her period. After attending our workshop, she not only shed that myth but stepped up to lead her school’s WaSH committee. Today, she’s a peer educator—bold, informed, and inspiring others with her mantra: “Always Be Clean.”