On Menstrual Hygiene Day, Whisper® launches Mobileshaala to #KeepGirlsInSchool even when they are at home
- Supported by Bhumi Pednekar, Mobileshaala enables free education on subjects like English, Science, and Menstrual Hygiene
Chennai, 28 May 2020: Moving forward with their #KeepGirlsInSchool movement, Whisper®,
India’s leading feminine care brand, launched ‘Mobileshaala’ today, an
initiative to provide free education while schools across the country remain
closed. School closures due to the ongoing pandemic could lead to increased
drop-out rates, disproportionately affecting adolescent girls. While closing
down schools temporarily might help contain the virus, it could have a
permanent effect on the future of many - especially marginalized girls, who are
now even more vulnerable to dropping out of school in the absence of structured
education. Uninterrupted learning is of utmost importance for these girls.
With “Mobileshaala”, Whisper® is building their
commitment to #KeepGirlsInSchool. It is a phone-based learning system that
gives free access to curriculum-based education modules on key subjects like
English, Science and menstrual hygiene education. Watch
this video to learn more about
this initiative
Education is a critical component for
empowerment. It is startling that when girls hit puberty, 1 out of 5 girls
starts missing school, leading to her eventually dropping out and we don’t even
notice. To bridge this gap, Whisper® initiated the #KeepGirlsInSchool movement earlier this year to empower girls with
menstrual hygiene education and as a major step towards achieving the brand’s
vision of 100% menstrual hygiene in India. The first phase of
#KeepGirlsInSchool initiative has helped keep 50 lakh girls in school.
Chetna Soni,
Category Leader - Feminine Care, P&G Indian sub-continent: “We kicked off the
#KeepGirlsInSchool movement earlier this year, staying true to ou r commitment
to ensure periods do not stand in the way ofa girl achieving their dreams. Lack
of menstrual hygiene education is a key reason for girls to start dropping out
of school when they hit puberty. We have been able to make significant impact
on-ground to #KeepGirlsInSchool helping 50 lakh girls in early 2020. Today,
these girls face a major challenge as the schools have shut down across the
country due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
This has disrupted the structured learning process across India and can lead to
higher drop out rates especially for girls. Being a brand that has always
supported girls, we have supercharged our #KeepGirlsInSchool mission with
‘Mobileshaala’, to enable uninterrupted learning for girls, even during these
challenging times. It is a free mobile-based learning system where girls can
continue learning on school subjects and periods, especially during these
challenging times. We are pleased to support organisations like Prathamin the
endeavor of girls’ education, and will continue to break barriers to unleash
girls’ confidence so they can be whoever they want to be.”
Bhumi
Pednekar who
is a strong advocate for education of girls has supported the initiative. Talking
about “Mobileshaala”, she said:“I
whole-heartedly believe that nothing should get in the way of a girl’s
education. That’s why Whisper’s ambition to #KeepGirlsInSchool even when they
are at home with the Mobileshaala initiative is very personal for me. My
parents always made sure education was my number one priority while growing up
and I hope we can do the same for the young girls of our country during these
trying times. I would like to make a strong appeal to everyone to spread the
word and share it with the ones who could benefit from it.”
Whisper® has collaborated with Pratham, an NGO
that focuses on education for children, to drive this program. Dr Banerji, CEO
of Pratham said, “Mobileshaala is a much-needed initiative by Whisper in these
uncertain times. Ensuring that girls remain in school and continue to learn is
high on our priority as well. Movements like #KeepGirlsInSchool are key to tackling
the issue of dropout rates of adolescent girls, especially in the current
scenario where girls have a higher risk of dropping out.”
Whisper® continues to act as a force for the
good, empowering girls and women to be whoever and whatever they want to be by
ensuring that nothing comes in the way of achieving dreams. Whisper has been
committed to improving awareness around periods through its Menstrual Hygiene
Awareness School Program, which has touched the lives of more than 4 crore
girls in India since 1995.Strengthening this commitment, Whisper® has pledged
to reach 5 crore girls by 2022 – as empowered girls will empower the nation. You
too can play a role in supporting these girls by logging on to https://keepgirlsinschoolindia.org/mobile-shaala and
spreading the wordto enable uninterrupted learning, be it for your own daughter
or someone else’s.
About Whisper® India:
Whisper® is the largest feminine care brand in India. Whisper® has a range of
variants catering to diverse consumer needs. These are Whisper® Ultra Nights, Whisper® Ultra Clean, Whisper® Ultra Soft, Whisper® Choice Ultra, Whisper® Choice, Whisper® Choice Aloe, Whisper® Maxi Nights, Whisper® Maxi Fit, Whisper® Liners. Whisper® has been using its advertising voice over the years to help
shape and build the category, create awareness about hygienic menstruation
management, spark conversations, bust myths and break taboos related to periods
and menstrual hygiene, acting as a force for good and force for growth.
Whisper® is making a difference through its on-ground puberty education
program. Over the past three decades Whisper® has educated more than 2.5 crore
girls in India on menstrual hygiene through our Education Program. Whisper® has
pledged to double this impact in the next four years and educate over 5 crore
adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene by 2022.To know more, visit us at
keepgirlsinschoolindia.org
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