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2022-12-31-accounts

Irise International Annual Report 2022 Iriie Institute Eail Istrual orKillL I i, Irise IntÈrnational- Annual RÈport 2022

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Contents

Legal and Administrative Information ..................................................................................................... 3 Objectives and Activities ......................................................................................................................... 4 Achievements and Performance ............................................................................................................. 6 Key Successes UK: ............................................................................................................................... 6 Empower Period .............................................................................................................................. 6 Period Product Provision during the Cost-of-Living Crisis ............................................................. 11 Key Successes East Africa: ................................................................................................................. 13 The Period Equality Network ........................................................................................................ 13 The Recipients of the first TPEN Small Grants Round ................................................................... 17 TPEN Sharing Learning Grants....................................................................................................... 23 Rise-Up .......................................................................................................................................... 26 Period Friendly Schools ................................................................................................................. 29 IIEA’s Independent Work ............................................................................................................... 31 Global Work: ..................................................................................................................................... 32 Irise Annual Gathering .................................................................................................................. 32 Empower Period Awards ............................................................................................................... 33 Mapping Global Menstrual Experience......................................................................................... 34 2023- consolidating community, championing change ........................................................................ 35 Our Partners, Supporters and Collaborators ......................................................................................... 36 Structure, Governance and Management ............................................................................................ 37 Statement of Financial Activities and Independent Examiner’s Report ............................................... 39

“Thank you Irise for seeing my capability.” Leilah

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Legal and Administrative Information

Trustees:

Linda Baines (Chair) Rowena Collings Sophie Rowson Joanne Nakakawa-Hampson Chloe Reeves (stepped down- 31/01/2023) Cianne Jones (stepped down- 6/6/2023 ) Kimber Bialik (joined- 12/06/2023) Gloria Diamond (joined- 12/06/2023) Amisa Rashid (joined- 12/06/2023) Katie Thistleton (joined- 12/06/2023)

Empower Period Committee:

Our Empower Period Committee advises the board and staff on our youth-led work in the UK. They do not hold any formal legal or governance responsibilities.

Molly Fenton (Co-Chair) Ellie Finneran (Co-Chair) Cynthia Pokuah Heather Know Nawasha Mishra

Executive:

Emily Wilson (CEO) Principal Address: 7 Castle Street Sheffield S3 8LT

In East Africa Irise International works in partnership with our sister organisation, Irise Institute East Africa (IIEA). IIEA are registered in Uganda and their main office is in Kampala. They have an independent board and receive income independently of Irise International. The relationship between Irise International and IIEA and our shared goals are laid out in a Memorandum of Understanding and jointly created Global Strategic Framework. A grant agreement governs the transfer of funds. Irise Institute East Africa’s Annual Report for 2022 can be viewed here: www.irise.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Annual-Report-IIEA-2022.pdf

Website: www.irise.org.uk Contact: info@irise.org.uk Registered charity number: 1157722

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Objectives and Activities

Charity objectives (as stated in governing document): THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF GOOD HEALTH AND THE PREVENTION OR RELIEF OF POVERTY AMONG WOMEN AND GIRLS BY WORKING TO IMPROVE SANITATION AND HEALTH EDUCATION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS, WITH A FOCUS ON SUB SAHARAN AFRICA AND THE UK.

We’re an award-winning global leader in period equality programming and advocacy. Our vision is a world where a female body is not a disadvantage. We bring together young people held back by their periods and their allies to crate change in their own communities and in wider society. We work in the UK and in East Africa in partnership with our sister organisation, Irise Institute East Africa and together, use our experience and power to shape the global agenda on this issue.

At the start of the covid-19 pandemic, following a rapid consultation with our community, we launched an interim emergency strategy: Irise took action across 3 strands:

Ensuring Provision - immediate support for overlooked gender specific needs.

Providing Protection - safeguarding vulnerable young people.

Restoring Power - amplifying the experiences and priorities of those we support.

Our Annual Plan for 2021 combined our original 2019-2024 Strategy with our interim covid-19 strategy described above, and the learning gained from our experiences in 2020. It also aligned with and championed Irise’s first Global Strategic Framework, created by Irise International and Irise Institute East Africa, to guide the Irise group into a new phase of growth and development.

1. Spearhead the creation and expansion of a global Irise community that can shape the global gender equality agenda.

a. Establish structures for global community building.

2. Support young people and their communities across the contexts where we work to recover from the covid-19 crisis and resume progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5; Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls by 2030.

a. Complete delivery of our emergency response

c. Launch our Needs Assessment reports and advocate for their recommendations to be addressed by relevant stakeholders

3. Champion diverse leadership and enable more young women to realise their potential to lead and shape a more inclusive agenda.

a. Launch Empower Period Award to celebrate and build community around transformational leadership

b. Establish Irise Mentorship Circle

c. Establish Equality Subcommittee at board level to champion and develop equality agenda within Irise

d. Develop and fund young women’s focused leadership initiatives across the contexts where we work

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4. Realise period equality across the contexts where we work through a combination of project delivery, learning focused work and advocacy- working to realise the UK government target of ending period poverty and shame in the UK by 2025 and globally by 2030.

a. Run and support Empower Period Forum to undertake national advocacy towards period poverty and shame in the UK

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Achievements and Performance

Irise is a driving force for Period Equality locally, nationally and globally. In 2023 we:

Key Successes UK:

Our priority in the UK is to host and equip that national, youth-led movement for Period Equality.

Empower Period

Programming

The launch of The Empower Period Programme brought together youth champions, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield and staff form partner organisations.

The partners were:

1 Read more about the programme at: www.irise.org.uk/2022/08/the-empower-period-programme-south-yorkshire/

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a series of social media posts highlighting Black Feminists championing period health and wellbeing as part of Black History Month.

Advocacy

2 Read the full briefing from our event, ‘Menstrual Health Day 2022; What’s next for Period Equality in the UK?’

www.irise.org.uk/2022/07/whats-next-for-period-equality-in-the-uk/

3 View a write-up of the event and a video recorded with Empower Period Young people about their advocacy priorities here: www.irise.org.uk/2022/12/the-empower-period-summit/

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Young people and supporters from across the UK took part in person and virtually in the ‘Empower Period’ Summit.

Youth Voices from the Empower Period Summit:

“My school had to take the box with pads in away because they thought people were stealing them.”

“The only pads available in school toilets were the massive night ones, and you can’t play sport or be that comfortable in them.”

“In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to do this and advocate for improved access to menstrual health.”

“We shouldn’t have to pay for bleeding.”

Key impacts of our work with young people in the UK:

“Irise supported me as a young person to continue doing what I love in a positive space as a young, disabled person. The team are always amazing and the space is safe for all.”

“Irise has helped me a lot to be more confident in myself and my period. As part of Love Your Period it’s also been amazing for me to learn so much from the period parade speeches and social media posts. I myself have suffered from period poverty so I’m so glad I got to be part of the Every Period Counts campaign.”

“I think volunteering with Irise has been pivotal to my personal development but also my career and advocacy.”

“Irise helped me see the truth around periods and it has helped me break out of my shell after covid. It’s given me many opportunities that have helped me with school and outside too.”

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Case Study- Sabiha, Hina, Harissa and the Shipshape Period Wellness Space

Shipshape champions Sabiha (left) with other champions, Hina and Harissa and Shipshape CEO Tanya Basharat (right)

Sabiha, Hina and Harissa worked with Irise to create a Period Wellness Space for girls and young women in the Shipshape community building. They organised a special launch event for women in the wider community with free period goody bags, Bollywood dancing, nail painting and henna.

“I chose to be a period champion because I saw the lack of knowledge in the community not only for women but also the men and large families. I also saw the way girls are fearful because of it and would want that to change. The issues that are facing young people when it comes to periods are negative views or periods are viewed as a joke. Also, the lack of knowledge; people do not know what’s happening to us women or they don’t know the help is here or where to get products. In my role as period champion I can help break some of these barriers and make people feel comfortable with their periods.”

Sabiha, age 15

Sabiha then championed periods in her school by helping her peers access products.

“In our school, the period products are kept in the library. Some of my friends feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about going to get period products from the library, but I know it’s nothing to be embarrassed about so I just fetch the pads for other pupils when they need them.”

Sabiha was asked to do a presentation at school on any topic of her choosing and she decided to talk about periods and the challenges accessing period products, as well as suggesting changes the school could make. Sabiha’s presentation was well received by her teacher and she was later invited to share her experiences and ideas with the UK government’s Department for Education to help improve the free period product scheme for schools and colleges across England.

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Case Study- Caitlin, Amy, Meg and Power Over Periods

Caitlin (left) with Amy, Safiya, Josie and Sarah, CEO of Chula (right)

Caitlin, Amy and Meg founded Power Over Periods started Power Over Periods when they were studying their A-levels together to dispel myths and harmful ideas about periods that were holding them and their peers back. They made funny TikTok videos together about their experiences having their period to help others feel more comfortable seeking help and support.

Their body positivity and acceptance of everyone has had a big impact in their own school, across the whole city where they live.

Through Irise, they teamed up with Chula to deliver period education sessions in local schools as part of the Empower Period Programme.

“I think the current issues facing young people when it comes to periods is the stigma and lack of role models for anyone experiencing periods. Also the lack of effective education about periods from an intersectional point of view leading to conversation barriers between the sexes. Period poverty is a problem for both men and women and non-binaries. I feel this is a great opportunity to further our work and progress made with our campaign Power over Periods. I also believe that giving young people a platform and role models to talk and relate to further helps to end stigmas around periods.”

Caitlin, age 17

Cailtin went on to work with Irise and Sheffield City Council to develop the city’s Period Equality and Menopause Charter. She helped Irise and Plan International UK develop a Peer-Led Peer Education Guide to be used across the UK and spoke to the national and local media about her work with Irise.

“Our main aim is to try and break that stigma, challenge stereotypes and the misconceptions. The way that I personally do it is by using my social media platform. We also have been going into schools to actually talk to young people and get then involved. We make sure that it doesn’t feel like a gender issue or a taboo subject and that everyone feels that they can talk about it.”

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Period Product Provision during the Cost-of-Living Crisis

Irise’s partners unpack Modibodi Period Pants

"[A benefit was] being able to have a product they can reuse. The dignity in providing different sizes so they could choose ones that fitted."

Organisation receiving Period Pants

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Breakdown of Period Pants Recipients by group

Voices of recipients of Modibodi Period Pants:

"Don't have to worry about leaks and smells. [The pants are] discreet, comfortable, and always have a spare with me.”

"I can take kids to play school without worry.”

"Felt more relaxed, less stressed, less anxious, able to socialise more.”

"No stress, no concerns of leakage, I can do things I couldn’t do before.”

4 Based on annual evaluation surveys with organisations and recipients- available on request.

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Key Successes East Africa:

Our priority in East Africa is to support grassroots action, leadership and advocacy for Period Equality for All.

The Period Equality Network

The Power Together Report (right), the launch event (left)

5 Read the full report, The Power of Learning Together; lessons and learning from The Period Equality Network, here: https://www.irise.org.uk/tpen-resources/

6 Read the four learning briefings: https://www.irise.org.uk/tpen-resources/

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Learning Briefings from the first two years of The Period Equality Network

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TPEN Influencing, Advocacy and sharing Learning:

Regional Director at IIEA, Lillian Bagala, present at the Global Period Poverty Forum

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Voices from the Period Equality Network:

“I can now implement my own ideas because IIEA supported me with a small grant and capacity building for grantees.”

Bridget Kigambo, 24 years old, Founder and Executive Director of Girls Power Connect

“The Period Equality Network is a platform to communicate and speak with one voice to champion period equity for all women and girls in their diversity. It encourages collaboration and learning from one another through the different intersections of work.”

Esther Wambui, Zamara Foundation

“The network has contributed to the visibility of our work integrating menstrual health into mental health.”

Don Zane Muwanguzi, Awesome Mind Speaks

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The Recipients of the first TPEN Small Grants Round

Irise Institute East Africa ran a small grants round focused on Uganda as part of their broader package of support for The Period Equality Network. Grants were awarded by a committee of local stakeholders whose decisions were informed by Irise’s Funder Assessment Framework which summarises available evidence and expert consensus on effective menstrual health programming. All the projects were evaluated using Irise’s standard Evaluation Toolkit.

Health for Youth with Parents Involved- Promoting safe periods, free from violence and harm

School girls read resources created by HEYPI

Between November 2021 and January 2022 HEYPI supported 6 schools and 1 refugee community in Nansana. They set up a Gender Based Violence desk to manage and handle cases of violence, carried out music, dance and drama sensitizing the young people about menstruation and ensured safe spaces in schools where young girls could change during their periods. They also formulated content to be put on the radio and engaged with influencers to develop social media content on menstrual health.

People reached:

3,369 - Women, girls and boys reached at schools and the larger community

2,000- Indirect beneficiaries: young people, women and men, reached with social media channels

70 - People involved in the interventions: Health workers, teachers, police, and nongovernment organisations.

Key impacts:

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“We have been able to have local leaders get involved in Menstrual Hygiene Management. We have seen systems in schools improve planning for the girls in terms of setting up safe spaces and providing commodities for the girls for free as policy in the schools. lastly because of the work and support from Irise. I have been nominated as Best Health worker in the country this is all because of the work we have done with support and guidance from TPEN.”

Muhumuza Michael Clyde, HEYPI

A resource created by HEYPI

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Faraja Africa Foundation- Digital Storytelling to end Period Stigma

Girls who shared their stories with Faraja

Digitalizing Access to Menstrual Hygiene Management to Young Girls in Uganda was a threemonth project implemented by Faraja Africa Foundation (FAF) in 3 administrative regions in Uganda: Central, Western and Eastern Uganda. The project aimed to provide awareness on the effects of negative culture and social norms around menstruation on young girls in Uganda through digital storytelling. FAF engaged with 16 young girls aged between 13-18 years via menstrual health talks. They developed online and printed messages targeting 6 districts: Kampala, Wakiso, Rubirizi, Fort Portal, Kasese and Mbale Districts. FAF used their official social media platforms; Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and Faraja Television, to share the content[7] .

Key impacts:

7 You can watch Faraja’s short documentary here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKzqrhomcig

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Dodi community foundation (DCF)

Girls benefitting from Dodi’s work

Dodi conducted awareness sessions on menstrual pads with 209 girls from 10 primary schools, supplied them with free reusable pads and knickers. Girls in these schools no longer use rags, papers, toilet paper leaves, banana fibers, etc. Some parents have bought reusable pads for their daughters and schools have stocked emergency menstrual pads. There is also increased awareness and knowledge on menstruation and the different menstrual products available which is attributed to the training conducted by DCF.

People reached:

209- People directly benefiting: School girls and their families,

30- People directly benefiting: Headteachers, chairpersons management committees

30- People that have been involved in the project ( Health workers, senior women teachers, leaders )

Key impacts:

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DEFORA- Development Foundation for Rural Areas- Strengthening Menstrual Management in schools

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A school and community event organised by DEFORA
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The “Strengthening Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) within six primary schools in Kyegegwa District, in the western region” was a six months project implemented by Development Foundation for Rural Areas (DEFORA) in Kyegegwa District. The objective was to support access to appropriate MHM through skills training, increase the capacity of schools to manage MHM, and Increase awareness of good MHM practices among leaders and communities. In schools, senior female teachers were provided with emergency sanitary kits for girls who unexpectedly got their periods. DEFORA was able to hold 6 community dialogues where participants were invited from the surrounding areas of Humura, Wekomire, Mpara, Mukoka, Kinyinya,and Kakoni primary schools and a total of 203 people attended. DEFORA established partnerships with community leaders (CDOs and religious leaders) to help deliver project activities.

People reached:

1,200- girls in six targeted schools in Kyegegwa district (4 national and 2 refugee hosting schools) 2,550 - people will indirectly benefit including parents, teachers and local community, cultural and opinion leaders from Kyegegwa district.

24- people were impacted by close collaboration (teachers, CDOs and religious leaders)

Key impacts

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Girls Power Connect- Girls Potential Care Centre

Girls Power Connect in action

The organisation talked about menstrual health in 3 primary schools and 4 secondary schools. They taught girls about menstrual products and menstrual management. The organisation provided learning materials like textbooks which were to be kept in the school library for them to read. Each girl also received a pack of reusable pads. Girls Power participated in the Women in Business exhibition series in Kabarole (Bahara Pride Pads) where they sold the pads and trained people on how to support themselves and each other to eradicate period stigma and poverty. Girls Power Connect carried out several radio talk shows on local radio discussing topics like menstrual hygiene, school dropouts due to early pregnancies, sex education in schools, effects of lockdown on young people.

People reached:

2,131- girls met in different schools.

200- indirect beneficiaries from radio programs, posts on the internet and WhatsApp posts. 23- people who worked closely on the project (NGO staff, school staff and radio station collaborators)

Key impacts:

“Today if anyone is looking for an organisation doing work on Menstrual Health, they will find Girls Power. This has happened because of the visibility that the platform has given us… We have been able to network and collaborate in advocacy efforts across the East Africa Community sub-region. his has really enabled the organisation to be on the frontline in matters of menstrual health.”

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TPEN Sharing Learning Grants

The Waterloo Foundation worked with Irise to make three larger grants to amplify best practice amongst organisations with strong menstrual health work in specific areas.

Young Women’s Alliance for Human Rights (YAH)- Girls’ Leadership and Peer Support

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A girl attending a YAH peer-led activity
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YAH is a network of young women’s rights activists across Uganda who believe in the power of girls to create change. “Breaking Period Poverty and shame for girls in Uganda post-Covid-19” created a reflective space for adolescent girl leaders to share their menstrual health experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adolescent Girl’s Cafés were set-up in Nsangi, Kawempe, Nansana and KiteziGayaza to provide girls with information and peer support. School menstrual health clubs were also created to foster peer-to-peer support amongst students as a way of breaking period stigma. The project used a peer-led approach where respondents were encouraged to share their experiences in a safe, voluntary, and supportive environment.

People reached

500 - In school adolescent girls in both primary and secondary schools within the targeted areas 80- indirect beneficiaries such as Teachers, CBO and NGO staff, staff and volunteers of partner organizations and social workers

100- Other people benefited such as general community members (men and women, boys, traditional and faith leaders, policymakers)

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African Revival- Girls’ Leadership and Peer Support

Pages from the Girls’ Club Resource created by African Revival

African Revival (AR) developed school-based menstrual health programming in girls’ leadership and girl-led advocacy. They set up Menstrual Health Advocates Girls’ Clubs, create replicable resources and trained grassroots grantees and other groups to replicate the work.

This project successfully:

With the support of Senior Female Teachers, each school set up a Girls’ Club with 30 members, selected from P5-P7 by their peers. Club members voted for two girls to be their Girls’ club leaders and run the club’s activities. Once clubs had been set up, there was an official project launch (on 4th February 2022). The launch was attended by the District Commissioner, Council Chairman, Secretary of Education for Amuru, District Inspector of Schools, Community Development Officers, Headteachers and Senior Female Teachers from target schools.

Girls’ Clubs provided girls with a space to discuss menstruation, plan how they can create more period-friendly schools and create change within the community. The Girls’ Club Leaders from different schools met to share experiences, plan advocacy together, and feed into the local district and national advocacy work of other organisations, such as YAH Uganda (Young Women's Alliance for Human Rights). AR facilitated the first of these exchange meetings during the project. The Girls’ Club Leader members were provided with menstrual health and life-skills training.

1,500 fun and educational MH Advocates Comic Books were distributed to project schools, other schools across Northern Uganda and will be made available to TPEN members.

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Dig Deep - Sustainable Change

The main goal of this project was to integrate menstrual health into the district-level Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) strategy in Bomet County Kenya, including education and healthcare settings, to produce learning on how to integrate into local infrastructure and how to measure and monitor impact in partnership with local government. The specific objectives were divided into two phases:

Assessment phase: Integration of menstrual health into Household WASH survey reaching 250k people; Integration of menstrual health into Institutional WASH survey reaching schools and clinics; Integration of menstrual health into focus group discussions.

Planning phase: Building consensus on the gender-sensitive definition of WASH access to guide the planning process; Designing and piloting intervention to achieve Menstrual Hygiene Management access.

In a household survey, which was a representative sample of 250,000 people, 8,900 women (68% of all respondents) were asked about their experiences with menstrual health. A selection of questions from the Menstrual Practice Needs Scale, designed by Dr Julie Hennegan, were also included in the survey. These results were incorporated into a set of WASH dashboards used in the County WASH Hub for understanding the baseline WASH access and tracking progress across various indicators. Surveys into MHM access in schools and clinics were also undertaken, reaching 36 clinics and 198 schools.

Dig Deep also conducted 16 focus groups across the sub-county to better understand attitudes to WASH, and menstrual health in particular, in the community. These groups included 5 women’s groups, 4 youth groups and 4 groups of people with disabilities. Shockingly, data revealed that 25% had worried they would be harmed whilst changing their menstrual material away from home.

As a result of this work the district-level WASH Strategy now includes long term strategic commitments to menstrual health, shared in the box below:

Bomet County WASH Strategy

  1. Address the WASH needs of women and girls through creating a policy on public gender-separated washrooms and the safe disposal of menstrual products- the public consultation and survey activities undertaken have highlighted the negative experiences of women interacting with institutional sanitation service. The improvement of these services to be more gender sensitive is therefore a priority.

  2. Improve hygiene for the next generation through undertaking periodic hygiene promotion and menstrual health education in schools- hygiene promotion and menstrual health education in schools has so far been done on a piecemeal basis. To institutionalise the process of learning, the promotion and education of these issues among students should be made a formal part of the curriculum so that these gains are maintained and reinforced.

  3. Improve hygiene standards in schools and clinics through integrating key performance indicators for hygiene into existing inspection regimes- as per the previous recommendation, establishing and maintaining hygiene standards in institutions is a major challenge. Inspections and monitoring criteria by health and education authorities will serve to provide a consistent standard for hygiene in these institutions.

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Rise-Up

8 - - - Read the full report on the Rise-Up Project here: https://www.irise.org.uk/wp content/uploads/2023/10/Rise Up Report.pdf

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Entrepreneur Lillian Alinda - Moment Fashions and Films Limited

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Lillian (left), schoolgirls, Rise-up entrepreneurs and a supportive female member of parliament (right)
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Lillian founded her organisation in 2019 but her passion started in college when she wrote her dissertation about teenage pregnancy in Mubende district. Many of the girls she spoke to had become pregnant after engaging in transactional sex for pads and other toiletries. From the moment she heard their stories she wanted to find another way for these girls. She got a job after college and saved 50% of her earnings for sewing machines and rent so she could start manufacturing reusable pads in her community. Her mother was a tailor and taught her how to sew and she sold shares to her family to help raise all the capital she needed to start. The pandemic made business more challenging as the cost of materials went up. She joined Rise-Up to help find a way through the challenges. Through hearing from other entrepreneurs and girls themselves she was able to adapt her product to make it more affordable and also started providing girls with information about periods alongside menstrual products to increase her social impact.

“Rise Up increased my insight into the challenges girls face in my community accessing their products and menstrual information. This helped me improve on our menstrual products so that I attracted more customers…I have [also] supported girls in my community. I now teach them about menstrual hygiene and management before selling them pads.”

Lillian

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Schoolgirl, Leilah

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Leilah with her mentor and another school girl
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Leilah says she didn't believe it when the team first came to tell her about the Rise-Up programmeshe thought it was unlikely people would give her money to do what she wanted with. When they did she quickly put it to good use, setting up a small business with her friends so they could earn their own small income to meet their needs. Now she wants to thank Irise for "seeing her capability" when others didn't.

“We have experienced many changes [thanks to Rise-Up] including, regular attendance of school, we have gained business skills, confidence in ourselves and business, engagement in pad making projects, and becoming a mentor to others. We have provided others with access to pads and information, encouraged them to be confident about their bodies and take periods as something normal, taught them how to make pads and inspired them with business ideas that have motivated some of them to start their own businesses.”

Leilah

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Period Friendly Schools

Reach in 2022:

Testimonies from Period Positive schools and communities:

“I greatly appreciate Irise Institute East Africa for the intervention in our school, thank you for teaching us about menstruation and giving us good reusable pads. Initially, I didn’t have knowledge of menstruation and I had low self-esteem while on my period, was embarrassed, and could not answer anything in class, however since Irise Institute sensitized us, I am now knowledgeable, I can attend class and freely associate with people while on periods.” Catherine, age 16

“[I] am so proud of Irise Institute East Africa because they have helped me a lot in both acquiring knowledge of how to manage periods and provision of reusable pads. I could not raise my hand up in class when in my periods because I was using rugs that could leak, sometimes I was forced to stay home till I finish my periods; this doesn’t exist anymore.” Joyce, age 16

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Irise Institute East Africa has improved confidence among the children since the model works in schools and community therefore, information is received from both sides compared to way back when menstruation was kept a secret and as a senior woman teacher, I would not talk freely and openly to the girls and no here I am freely interacting with girls and other people in the community.”

Cissy, Senior Woman Teacher

Every term we would register an average of five (5) school dropouts among the girls due to early pregnancy /marriages and the primary cause was lack of menstrual products (pads) and the parents wouldn’t afford and the only option is to seek assistance from strangers, whoo ask for sex in return. With the intervention on board, girls are now informed of the risks of early marriages/pregnancy and the provision of pads and scholastic materials…has reduced school dropout. Thanks to Irise for minding about the girl child.”

Muwanguzi, Teacher

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IIEA’s Independent Work

IIEA Programme Manager Patricia Humura speaks at the Regional Menstrual Health Symposium

IIEA practically supported 9,461 young people in 34 schools across 5 districts in Uganda in 2022 across all their areas of work[11] .

9 The ‘Country Snapshot’ Resources can be viewed here: https://menstrualhygieneday.org/new-menstrual-health-hygienecountry-snapshots/

10 Footage of the conference can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/live/wf9VAm1zryw?si=ab6BfGEsQfvUrPL6 11 Read IIEA’s 2022 Annual Report here: https://www.irise.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Annual-Report-IIEA2022.pdf

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Global Work:

Irise continues to participate and lead in global forums and events, aiming to shape the global agenda in line with the priorities of our grassroots community and unlock further investment for Period Equality. This year this included:

In 2022 we held two special events celebrating our grassroots community and enabling them to connect share learning and develop a deeper, shared understanding of the issues we work on.

Irise Annual Gathering

Our Annual Gathering[12] , in March 2022, brought together staff, board members, volunteers and supporters from the UK and East Africa for a virtual conversation. We heard from feminist leaders in the UK and East Africa and exchanged learning from our work.

The Irise Annual Gathering 2022

"Feminist Leadership connects personal freedom with collective freedom. It prioritises working

together and having accountability.”

Angella Assimwe, Ugandan lawyer and human rights campaigner

12 A summary of the event and conversation can be viewed here: https://www.irise.org.uk/2022/03/irises-annual- gathering 2022/

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Empower Period Awards

East Africa- Hope Wambui Ochieng

Hope is an eleven-year-old period poet living in the Kibera slums in Kenya. During the pandemic she raised her voice to create awareness about girls experiencing period poverty in her community. She was nominated by forty-four different members of her community who described how she had mobilised local support for girls and helped them to avoid transactional sex in exchange for pads and other basic necessities.

UK- Ceri Flook – Mindful Cycles

Mindful Cycle is a passion project run by Ceri Flook, offering menstrual cycle awareness education that caters to the LGBTQIA+ community. The current landscape of sexual and reproductive health centres cis-gendered and heterosexual women. There are many people who bleed who do not fit into these categories and have a different experience of their menstrual cycle. Yet, these people do not often have the representation nor resources that are specific to their queer experience. Ceri is filling that gap by giving in-person presentations at queer events and making zines that are freely available at queer-friendly cafes.

13 Find out more about the Empower Period Awards here: https://www.irise.org.uk/2022/05/press-release-27-05-2022winners-of-the-first-ever-empower-period-award/

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UK- Tilly Fenton – Love your Period Campaign

Tilly co-founded the Love Your Period Campaign with her sister Molly and takes a huge responsibility in providing period dignity for other people her age. She helps schools across Wales and the wider UK make proper use of the free products available to school pupils and make sure young people can get these products with ease, calling out schools and councils for neglecting young peoples needs on the matter and making sure pupils like herself sitting exams now have access to the products they need to succeed.

Mapping Global Menstrual Experience

We published a new briefing[14] based on a systematic review of menstrual experiences in high income contexts and comparison to low and middle income contexts that we completed with academic colleagues in 2021. The briefing includes Irise’s experiences using the models produced by the review to inform policy and programming and aimed to make the evidence more accessible to global stakeholders.

14 The briefing can be viewed here: https://www.irise.org.uk/2022/04/new-learning-briefing-using-models-of-menstrualexperience-to-increase-impact/

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2023- consolidating community, championing change

We know that our community is the beating heart of Irise and we must new opportunities in 2023 to consolidate the community that we have and continue to champion change on their behalf.

Priorities for the year include:

UK:

East Africa:

Globally:

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Our Partners, Supporters and Collaborators

A massive thank you to all our incredible funders, supporters and collaborators in 2022.

Irise Institute East Africa The Period Equality Network Friends of Irise Sheffield Modibodi The Blagrave Trust The National Lottery Community Fund The British and Foreign School Society Children In Need Coles Medlock Foundation The UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Funderbirds JG Graves Charitable Trust The Joffe Charitable Trust Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation Open Gate Trust Paul Hamlyn Foundation Postcode Neighbourhood Trust Sheffield Town Trust Smallwood Trust South Yorkshire Community Fund Swire Charitable Trust The Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust The Arnold Clark Community Fund The Christmas Big Give The Big Give Women and Girls The Circle NGO The Evan Cornish Foundation The Hugh Neill Charity The Kulczyk Foundation The Souter Charitable Trust The Waterloo Foundation The Dillingham Family The Global Menstrual Collective In Kind Direct Shipshape Community Hub Adira Chula Education Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association Israac Love Your Period Campaign Dig Deep African Revival Sheffield Fostering Service

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Structure, Governance and Management

Board of Trustees

Irise International is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the UK’s Charity Commission. It is governed by a constitution. The Board of Trustees comprises 8 people who are responsible for the supervision of the management of all the affairs of Irise International. Board meetings are held four times a year, at the end of every quarter. Trustee recruitment and appointment is done based on the specific skills required, the nomination of an existing trustee and is voted upon. No other organisation or body has the right to appoint trustees to the charity.

Trustees’ Responsibilities

The board of trustees is responsible for ensuring that all the activities are within UK law and fall within the agreed charitable objectives. Its work includes setting strategic direction and agreeing the financial plan. The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which reveal the financial position of the charity with reasonable accuracy at any given time. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or any other irregularities. The board delegates day to day running of the charity to the Executive Directors and acts on advice and information from regular meeting with members of the Executive Team.

Staff and Structure

Irise International has a strong commitment to young people’s leadership, particularly the leadership of young women and girls and other marginalised genders. In the UK we create paid opportunities as part of our youth-led work, designed for young people entering the work force for the first time. These roles included mentorship, training and leadership development from senior staff.

Irise International aims to be a high impact, agile organisation and therefore aims to employ a small core team that can create opportunities, like the above, for emerging young leaders and that can work with a network of free lancers and consultants to achieve cost-effective high impact work. This model has helped us to be resilient to the impacts of the pandemic.

In East Africa, we have a long-term commitment to supporting East African leadership, particularly young women’s leadership, and continue to invest in supporting the growth and development of our sister organisation, Irise Institute East Africa. This included enabling them to build a diverse funding portfolio with international and African based funders to support their long-term independence and sustainability.

Risk Management

The trustees actively review the major risks that the charity faces on a regular basis, together with an annual review of the financial systems. The trustees have taken steps to put in place and regularly review a reserves policy as detailed in the financial statements. The trustees regularly identify and review the risks the organisation faces through an organisational risk management process and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate significant risks.

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Equal Opportunities

Irise International is a charity committed to the promotion of equal opportunity. It takes affirmative action to ensure gender equal access to education and employment. In carrying out this objective Irise treats individuals with respect within the organisation and in the field. Wherever possible we create a broad base for consultation and decision-making.

To accomplish the overall objectives as expressed in the Constitution Irise will:

• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing employment in the UK and host country which include the Equal Pay Act 1970; Race Relations Act 1976; Sex Discrimination Acts 1975; Disability Discrimination Act 2005; Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 as amended from time to time;

• In employment, prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment because of race, colour, nationality, religion or religious beliefs, ethnic or national origin, age, gender, marital status, civil partnership or gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability;

Liability of Members

Irise International is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation, limited by guarantee. If the CIO is wound up, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.

Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Commission in determining the activities undertaken by the Charity.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees,

Linda Baines, Chair of the Board of Trustees

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Statement of Financial Activities and Independent Examiner’s Report

Irise International- Annual Report 2022

Irise International CIO Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2022 2022 2021 Note Unrestricted Restricted funds funds Total Funds Total Funds INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds Income from grants and donations Other income Total income 17,451 546 271,952 289,403 546 185,339 951 17,997 271,952 289,949 186,290 Expenditure Expenditure on generating funds Expenditure on charitable activities Total Expenditure 7.944 19,362 27,306 14,782 170,309 185.091 22,726 189,671 212.397 20,868 239,040 259.908 Net movement income for the year 19.3091 86.861 77.552 173.6181 Balance brought forward 16,342 68.530 84.872 158.490 Balance carried forward 7,033 155,391 162,424 84,872 Irise IntÈrnational- Annual RÈport 2022

41 Irise International CIO Registered Charity Number: 1157722 Balance Sheet At 31 December 2022 2022 2022 Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2022 Total funds 2021 Total funds Note Stock Accounts receivable 42,275 42,275 262 262 Cash at bank and in hand 9,667 9,929 113,116 155,391 122,783 165,320 86,207 86.207 Creditors 12,8961 12.8961 11,3351 Total Net Assets 7,033 155.391 162.424 84,872 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 7,033 7,033 155.391 16,342 68.530 155.391 Total funds 7,033 155.391 162.424 84,872 The accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees on 25 October 2023 and were SiEned on its behalf by: Linda Baines Chair of Trustee5 Irise IntÈrnational- Annual RÈport 2022

42 Irise International CIO Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 Detrmber 2022 ACCOUNTING POUCIE5 1.1 Basis of Accounting The financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP IFRS 1021 'Accountin8 and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice, applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 and the Charities Act 2011. Irise International CIO meets the definition of a public benefit entitv under FRSIO2. Assets and liabilities are wholly recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy riotelsl. The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention, in sterlin& which is the functional currency of the Charitv. 60in8 concern At the time of approving the financial statements. the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. In¢omin8 resources All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income. it is probable that the income will be received. and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliablv. Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation 15 Subject to condition5 that require a level of performance before the charitv 15 entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and nLIt recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those condition5 is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those condition5 will be fulfilled in the reporting period. Re50urce5 expended All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses, including support costs and govemance costs are allocated or apportioned to applicable expenditure headinES. Support and 8overnance costs have been split between the fund-raising and charitable activfties based upon staff time. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and Eood practice. These costs include those relating statutory compliance and le£al fees on constitutional matters. Staff costs are allocated to activities on the basis of staff time spent on those activities. Costs of charitable activities include governance costs and an apportionment of support costs Ishown in note 41. Expenditure on equipment, fixture5 and fittings that exceed5 £1.000 15 capitalised. All fixed asset5 are Initial￿ recorded at cost. Currently the charity has no fixed assets. Irise IntÈrnational- Annual RÈport 2022

lYi$e International CIO Notes to the Financial Statement5 ft>rthe Year Ended 31 December 2022 ACCOUNTING POLICIES Icontinuedl Fund a¢tountlng Unrestricted fvnds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustee5. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund, where material, is included in the note5 to the financial 5tatement5. Pension cost5 The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for employees. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity. Irise IntÈrnational- Annual RÈport 2022

Irlse International CIO Notes to thè FSnanclal Stat8ments- contlnued for the Year Ended 31 De¢embgr 2022 2022 2021 VOLUNTARY INCOME Income from grants and donations Other income (all unrestricted) 289,403 546 289 949 185,339 951 186 290 Grants received, included in the above, are as follows= Restricted funds British & Forei8n Schools Society Children in Need Coles Medlock Foundation FCDO UK Aid Direct Funderbirds JG Graves Charitable Trust Joffe Charitable Trust 38,000 10,500 5,000 5,000 32,001 18,477 6,000 2,000 21,000 20,000 Lil and Terry Brarnall Foundation Modibodi Modibodi Gamechanger Grant National Lottery Community Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundation Postcode Nei8hbourhood Trust Sheffield Town Trust Smallwood Trust South Yorkshire Community Development Foundation Swire Charitable Trust The Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust The Arnold Clark Community Fund The Big Give Christma5 Challenge 2021 The Big Give Christma5 Challenge 2022 The Big Give Women and Girls Comms Support The Big Give Women and Girls Matched Fund The Blagrave Trust The Circle of Women back to school The Circle of Women Soroti Project The Evan Cornish Foundation The Hugh Neill Charity The Kulczyk Foundation The Souter Charitable Trust The Waterloo Foundation Donated Products Total restricted grant income 1,200 20,000 10,000 12,000 20,000 2,500 9,000 4,984 15,000 15,000 1,000 2,500 2,832 700 10,436 15,000 2,540 1,500 15 22,498 3,000 19,500 75,000 271.952 155.231 Unrestricted grants Total unrostrlrtod grants and donatlons 17,451 17.451 30,108 30.108 Total 289.403 185.339 Irise IntÈrnational- Annual RÈport 2022

45 lrf$e Internotlonal CIO Notes to the FSnanclal Statements- tontlnued for the Year Ended 31 D8￿mber 2022 Unrestricted Restricted 2022 2021 3. Expenditure Generating Funds Staff costs Direct costs Support costs Total 4,675 2,531 738 9,089 4,923 770 13,764 7,454 1.508 22,726 16,487 2,784 1,597 20,868 7,944 14,782 Charitable Activities Staff costs 9,404 8,473 1,485 19,362 84,930 76,525 8,854 170,309 94,334 84,998 10,339 189,671 135,447 90,477 13,116 239,040 Direct costs Support costs Total Total Staff costs 14.079 11,LK14 2,223 27,306 94.019 81,448 9,624 185,091 108,098 92,452 11,847 212,397 151,934 93,261 14,713 259,908 Direct costs Support costs Total Support costs are allocated on the basis of staff cost. Support Costs indude Rent and rates Governance Other overheads 3,003 680 8,164 11,847 3,691 55 10,967 14,713 4. Staff Costs UK net salaries UK employers Nl UK staff pension5 Uganda staff costs 65.809 1,454 1,459 39.376 108,098 104,643 3,632 2,391 41,267 151.933 The headcount of etnployees over the year wa5.. Uganda UK io li 15 The Uganda staff are all employed by Irise Institute East Africa, which is separately registered and independent to Irise International. All Uganda staff costs were covered by a grant from Irise International to Irise Institute East Africa. 5. Creditor5 Tiade Creditors Payroll creditors Accruals 97 2,119 680 97 1,238 2,896 1,335 Irise IntÈrnational- Annual RÈport 2022

Irise International CIO Notes to the Flnanelal StatèmÈnts- tontlnued for the Year Ended 31 December 2022 6. Analysis of Funds Balancè Blfwd RÈtèlv in year Spènt In year Balancé Clfwd Restricted Fund5 British & Foreign Schools Society Children in Need Coles Medlock Foundation FCDO UK Aid Direct Funderbird5 IG Graves Charitable Trust loffe Charitable Trust Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation Modibodi Modibodi Gamechanger Grant National Lottery Community Fund Open Gate Paul Hamlyn Foundation Postcode Neighbourhood Trust Sheffield Town Trust Smallwood Trust South Yorkshire Community Development Foundation Swire Charitable Trust The Allan & Ne5ta Ferguson Charitable Trust The Arnold Clark Community Fund The Big Give Chri5tma5 Challenge 2019 The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2021 The Big Give Chri5tma5 Challenge 2022 The Big Give Women and Girls Comms Support The Big Give Women 3nd Girls Matched Fund The Blagrave Trust The Circle of Women back to school The Evan Cornish Foundation The Hugh Neill Charity The Kulczyk Foundation The Souter Charitable Trust The Waterloo Foundation Donated Products Total Rèstrlcted Funds 10.317 38,000 10,500 5,000 5,000 28,741 3,980 19,576 6,520 15,1091 11091 2,000 21,000 2,000 2,000 16,252 2,000 102 11,292 16,040 772 670 20,000 2,121 5,789 44 2,212 20,000 2,500 417 17,879 4,152 9,941 2,212 20,0(K) 2,500 417 58 4,984 15,000 15,000 1,000 5,042 15,¢JXJ 1,145 13,855 2.540 2,500 2,832 700 10,436 15,000 5,040 2,832 45 8,284 8,933 655 2,152 6,067 1,500 sio 1,5 510 1,000 7,007 7,007 3,000 26,527 32,725 185.091 3,000 19,500 75,000 271,952 7,027 42,275 155,391 68,530 Unrestrirted Funds 16.342 17.997 27.306 7.033 Total Funds 84.872 289,949 212.397 162.424 Irise IntÈrnational- Annual RÈport 2022

47 Irl$e Internatlonal CIO Notes to the Financial Statements- continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2022 7. Comparative SOFA for year ended 31 December 2021 2021 Unr8strlct8d R8strlcted Total Income Income from grants and donation5 Other income Total In¢ome 30,108 950 31,058 155,231 185,339 950 186,289 155.231 Exptndlturé Expenditure on generating funds Expenditure on charitable activities Total Expenditure 1,320 21,992 23,a12 19,548 217,047 236,595 20,868 239,039 259,907 Net movement income for the year 7,746 181,3641 173,6181 Balance brought forward 8,596 149,894 158,490 Balance carrled forward 16,342 68.530 84,872 Irise IntÈrnational- Annual RÈport 2022