Restoring dignity for Romani women and girls

The Romani people, also known as the Roma or the Romani, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group who traditionally lived a nomadic, itinerant lifestyle. Their most concentrated populations are believed to be in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia.

Millions of Roma live in slums without electricity, running water, or access to healthcare. Many live under threat of forced evictions, police harassment and violence. As children, the Roma receive a lower level of education and are less likely to be employed as adults. In central and eastern Europe, they can expect to live 10 years less than others. This is the result of centuries of prejudice and discrimination, as the majority of Romani people have been pushed to the margins of society, denied their rights to a healthy, fulfilling life.

Together with our partners at Caleb Foundation, which has worked alongside the Roma community for over 24 years, Humaniti launched a project to provide sanitary products to Romani women and girls who have a menstrual cycle in the Romanian village of Lazareni.

Caleb Foundation conducts these types of projects regularly on a smaller scale but relies on individual donors. Together, we were able to implement a larger-scale version of this project and support 172 women with a pack of tampons every month for 12 months. The project provided a total of 2,064 packs for the year.

Not only does the provision of these products restore a sense of dignity to these women and girls, enabling them to manage their menstrual cycle hygienically, it empowers them to continue on with their daily lives without the need to hide away in shame or discomfort. These women and girls deserve access to healthcare and hygiene supplies as much as any other group in society.

One of the core aspects of our mission at Humaniti is to empower vulnerable women and girls, which is one of the most effective ways to build up a strong and thriving community. With your continued support, we can lead more projects just like this one and give more Romani people the sense of care and belonging they deserve.