On International Women’s Day, Softex Launch a Short Film and Exhibition, "Ana & The Red Wings", to Fight Period Stigma

Jakarta, 10 March 2023 –Softex continues its social campaign in support of UNICEF Indonesia and launches Ana & The Red Wings short film as an effort to break the stigma around the period experience and create public awareness of the importance of menstrual health access and hygiene in Eastern Indonesia. The short film Ana & The Red Wings inspired by the first menstrual experience of girls in Eastern Indonesia with all of their limitations. In addition, Ana & The Red Wings Exhibition is now open for the public from March 10-12, 2023 at Sarinah Building, Jakarta.

The short film Ana & The Red Wings is an aspiration to girls in Indonesia to embrace the first moment of her menstruation with more readiness and confidence. The symbolization of Red Wings in this short film represents a sign of maturity.

[Visit this link to watch Ana & The Red Wings short film]

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with UNICEF Indonesia. Previously, the program has positively impacted Indonesian girls in Papua, West Papua, South Sulawesi, and East Nusa Tenggara. We hope this partnership can build public awareness about issues surrounding Menstrual Health Management (MHM) and improve the well-being of adolescents in Eastern Indonesia. The initiative also supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030,” explained Kadir Gunduz, President Director of PT Softex Indonesia.

According to the School Sanitation Profile 2022 published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology with UNICEF, 52% of schools in Indonesia had inadequate women's toilet facilities and access to menstrual hygiene. In the effort to tackle this issue, Softex through the Kimberly-Clark Foundation donated 15 billion rupiah to UNICEF Indonesia for the program that aims to improve the quality of life for girls in Indonesia by promoting and educating them about menstrual health and hygiene, and providing gender and social inclusive access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. This collaboration will run until 2024, where Softex supports UNICEF to help 10,000 girls in Eastern Indonesia manage their menstruation safely and hygienically as well as to support 80,000 people, especially girls, in Eastern Indonesia to live in a clean and hygienic environment. The company's involvement in the development of Menstrual Health Management (MHM) is an attempt to make a difference in society and create a better world for future generations.

“The lack of understanding about menstrual health and hygiene can disrupt girls’ performance in school, and often results in stress and unnecessary shame. In rare cases, it can even lead to unwanted pregnancy. The right knowledge about menstruation is therefore important for girls – and also boys” says Gregor Henneka, Chief of Fundraising and Partnerships UNICEF Indonesia. “Softex is UNICEF Indonesia's loyal partner in overcoming the community's menstrual crisis. We’ve been working together to improve the life quality of girls in Eastern Indonesia.”

Softex, in addition to the short film screening, organizes Ana & The Red Wings Exhibition, in collaboration with local artists such as Ika Vantiani and Rachel Ajeng. This exhibition presents two inspirational and interactive masterpieces interpreting the Red Wings as a symbol of first period experience, also based on the artist’s experience and feelings from watching Ana & The Red Wings short film.

Shanna Shannon or famously known as Shannon, a young Indonesian singer and Founder of Yayasan Shanna Shannon Indonesia Banget, attended the press conference and opening of the exhibition today. Sharing her personal experience, “I'm so concerned to find out UNICEF’s survey that 1 out of 7 girls in Indonesia miss school during menstruation because of a lack of awareness and hygiene. The data encourages me to give the education to girls in several schools in eastern Indonesia." said Shannon. Shannon also mentioned, “I admire Softex’s dedication in providing awareness to these girls about the importance of menstrual health and its impact in society, both through the CSR program with UNICEF, as well as through this short film and exhibition.”

Since 2019, Softex supported UNICEF Indonesia through the #DariSaudari social campaign which has contributed to reach 44,000 girls and 1,327 schools in Eastern Indonesia and communicated clean living behaviors and menstrual hygiene management practices in Papua, West Papua, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara. This partnership until 2024 is aimed to achieve a greater impact on girls in other parts of Eastern Indonesia.