Our Story

VforShe is a nonprofit organization driven by compassion, awareness, and a mission to address a critical issue affecting millions of women: access to proper feminine hygiene. The inspiration for VforShe began with a heartfelt conversation between Veeraa Patel, a high school junior at Woodbridge High School, and her mother.

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During their discussion, Veeraa’s mother shared her experiences growing up in India, describing how inadequate feminine hygiene products were at the time. Pads lacked flaps, weren’t sticky, and were barely absorbent, making an already difficult experience even more challenging. What shocked Veeraa even more was learning that, to this day, many underprivileged women in India continue to face similar struggles. Feminine hygiene products remain inaccessible to many, leaving countless women to manage their health with inadequate resources.

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This realization stayed with Veeraa, and her curiosity deepened when she visited rural India. There, she learned firsthand how teenagers her age not only lacked access to proper feminine hygiene products but also the basic educational resources to understand and manage menstrual health. Many young girls didn’t know which tools to use or how to use them effectively. Motivated to learn more, Veeraa spoke with her grandmother, cousin, and other women in the community to understand the cultural, social, and economic barriers that perpetuate this cycle of inaccessibility and stigma.

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What she learned was eye-opening: the challenges her mother faced decades ago were still a harsh reality for many women today. This harsh truth inspired her to take action, leading to the creation of VforShe.

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At its heart, VforShe aims to bridge the gap in menstrual health education and access. The organization provides essential feminine hygiene products to underserved women while also working to raise awareness, challenge stigmas, and empower communities through education on menstrual health. Veeraa firmly believes that access to proper menstrual care is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right.

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With a vision rooted in empathy and informed by the experiences of women across generations, VforShe represents more than just a nonprofit. It is a movement to uplift and support women, improve health outcomes, and ensure that no one has to compromise their dignity due to a lack of resources or awareness. Veeraa’s story, shaped by her mother’s experiences and her own observations, is a testament to the power of advocacy and action.

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VforShe invites individuals, communities, and organizations to join its mission. Together, we can create a world where feminine hygiene is accessible, equitable, and no longer a barrier to health, education, or empowerment.