Birqe buckets
Distribution recorded in the historical campaign proposal.
Birqe Dignity Bucket
Practical Support for Menstrual Dignity
Purpose and Practical Support
The Birqe Dignity Bucket is part of WEEA’s work to improve access to practical menstrual health resources and support menstrual dignity.
Menstrual health requires more than products alone. It also depends on information, privacy, appropriate hygiene practices, and access to the resources people need to manage menstruation safely and confidently.
Through dignity-focused initiatives, WEEA seeks to respond to practical needs while supporting respectful, community-based approaches to menstrual health.
Dignity in Practice
Our work emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs of the people using these resources, providing appropriate information, and connecting material support with menstrual health education.
The Birqe Dignity Bucket forms part of this broader commitment to dignity, access, and practical support for women and girls.
Together, we can help make menstrual care more accessible, respectful, and dignified.
What the Birqe Bucket Contains
The Birqe kit described in the campaign’s historical proposal combines menstrual-care products and everyday hygiene essentials.
- Four reusable pads with an extra bag
- A towel
- Underwear
- Soap
- A whistle
- The bucket, which can be used for washing and storage
Material support is paired with menstrual-health information and guidance on appropriate use, washing, drying, storage and care. The separate I CARE dignity kit also includes a school bag.
Distribution, Education and Community Participation
Birqe was developed by the I CARE and Jegnit Ethiopia campaigns in partnership with Adey Pads. Distribution has connected local groups, schools, teachers’ associations and women’s groups with awareness, training and practical resources.
The campaign describes support for girls and teachers in government schools, displaced women, and women receiving cancer or fistula care. The initiative combines practical resources with respectful education and community support.
Birqe’s Back to School History
The “Abebaayeshwoy?” Back to School fundraising campaign began on 1 August 2021 with an aim to support 50,000 Ethiopian female students with menstrual-care kits. The campaign connects the Abebayehosh celebration with girls’ education and staying in school.
The collaboration brought together Mahlet Zeleke of I CARE, Marakie Tesfaye of Jegnit Ethiopia and Mikal Mamo of Adey Pads.
Schools
Schools included in that distribution record.
Displacement sites
Internally displaced-person sites included in the record.
The historical proposal also records over 30,000 adolescent schoolgirls reached with Birqe in 2022.
The historical campaign plan set an ambition of one million Birqe kits.
In 2021, Enat Bank sponsored reusable pads for 500 girls through the I CARE campaign. School-based distribution and training connected practical menstrual products with information and support.
Programme Reach
The campaign record describes menstrual-health support across Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Southern Ethiopia, Somali, Tigray, Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa. In Tigray, support included disposable pads sent to internally displaced people through volunteers.
Geographic ReachView Community Photographs
Support Birqe Through Partnership
Birqe connects menstrual dignity, girls’ education and practical community support. Partnerships can contribute resources, education, local production, distribution and programme support.
Birqe kit assembly is arranged through partnerships with WEEA.
Availability, delivery, care instructions and product arrangements are discussed with WEEA before ordering.