Mumbai, May 29, 2023. Reliance Foundation has entered into a partnership with Simply Sport Foundation (SSF) for their pioneering initiative, Simply Periods to focus on awareness regarding menstruation and athlete performance. The focus of the nationwide menstrual program is to help understand the relationship between menstruation and athlete performance, educate the athlete ecosystem and champion the cause of female athlete wellness.
Simply Sport Foundation’s The Breaking Barriers for Women in Sport Report (2022) has highlighted the following facts:
- There was no distinction between training methods for female and male athletes
- Communication about menstruation is still a problem for both the stakeholders
- Knowledge about menstruation and its connection with female athlete performance is lacking
- There is a lack of resources and research on the matter
- Athletes are hesitant to take an off while training and prefer to play through their periods
To enhance awareness on the issue, a series of workshops are planned to equip athletes and coaches with essential knowledge and tools related to menstruation and its impact on the sport. Further, the focus would be on developing a comprehensive knowledge repository covering topics such as female athlete nutrition, body image issues, psychology, and overall health. These resources will be made accessible through digital channels, to ensure widespread awareness and education.
Olympian & Reliance Foundation scholarship athlete Lovlina Borgohain, said, “It’s very important to normalize talking about periods. For female athletes along with overall well-being, performance too is connected to menstruation. Much like regular training we need to ensure that we have regular periods as well. It's high time we ended the silence about periods. I am glad Reliance Foundation and Simply Sport Foundation are engaging in conversation around female athletes and menstruation.”
Watch Lovlina talk about the initiative here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs0U0P6JFVx/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Recognizing the need for a stronger bond between athlete and their coaching and backroom team, a Reliance Foundation Spokesperson said, "We are very happy to partner with Simply Sport Foundation for the Simply Periods initiative, through which we aim to break the silence surrounding menstruation and create a supportive environment for female athletes. At Reliance Foundation, we firmly believe that women are the backbone of our society. This initiative will enable us to support and empower women in sports and pave their way to succeed and bring pride to our nation.”
Ankit Nagori, Founder of Simply Sport Foundation commented, “We are excited about this collaboration with Reliance Foundation, which will enable us to expand the reach of Simply Periods and create a positive impact on the lives of a lot of female athletes. Together I hope we are able to empower athletes and coaches, break down societal barriers, and foster an inclusive sports environment."
Reliance Foundation has a comprehensive vision of empowering women in sports by providing them with the necessary opportunities to thrive and achieve success on the global stage. As part of this vision, this partnership with Simply Periods aims to address the sensitive issue of menstruation faced by female athletes. Through this initiative, the Simply Sport Foundation has already made a positive impact by reaching out to more than 3,000 athletes and coaches. Reliance Foundation seeks to complement its efforts and use its own and partner ecosystem to create a lasting and transformative impact.
Guided by Reliance’s overarching ‘We Care’ philosophy, Reliance Foundation is committed to the empowerment of women and girls in all walks of life from comprehensive initiatives in technology access such as the WomenConnect Challenge India, to capacity building of social sector leaders with WomenLead India Fellowship. From enhancing agency to fostering women’s entrepreneurship, Reliance Foundation aims to drive transformative change, enabling women with tools, skills and support to realise their full potential and to be catalysts of change across the socio-economic fabric of our nation.
