One Step at a Time
HIIRA – A Menstrual Health Initiative
A Pilot Initiative by MBA Student - INTI International University , Malaysia
The Menstrual Health Initiative was introduced by Athira Moorthy in 2018 during the SASTRA Session at INTI University, a platform dedicated to supporting student-led social impact projects via the model of applying social enterprises. The session emphasized systems thinking in social change and featured an open pitch segment, encouraging students to propose initiatives addressing systemic societal challenges. SASTRA contributed only at Phase 1 and to review in the future based on the proposed initial project timeline.
HIIRA was built on two core principles: promoting sustainable, non-toxic menstrual care products, and delivering grassroots health education to underserved women
Challenges & Learnings
- Faced cultural resistance to menstrual cups and open discussions.
- Encountered COVID-19-related logistical constraints, leading to a Phase 2 pause.
- Validated the feasibility of combining product-based solutions with grassroots education.
Sustainable Projected Impact Model
- 3% of product revenue allocated to supporting girls’ primary education.
- Every 300 units sold funded five years of schooling for one girl.
- Aimed to support at least 10 girls annually through 3,000 unit sales.
- Seek expansion funding via social entreprise model
Concept & Origin
- Completed Pitching at INTI International University.
- Completed Adjustment based on Feedback
- Completed concept to prototype product
- Completed community engagement, conducted eight workshops in Nilai and Ipoh, directly engaged 120 women, distributed 80 menstrual cups, and addressed menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, and nutrition
Overall Project Outcome Reported :