Green Period Education in Malaysia by Da Yi Ma Project

Eco-Heroes

Green Period Education in Malaysia by Da Yi Ma Project

10 September 2025

By J-Lin

In a society where menstruation remains a taboo subject, a young Malaysian woman, Jia Hui, has led her menstrual health-focused initiative, Da Yi Ma Project, which integrates women and underprivileged children to foster a healthier and more inclusive community. This story follows her journey as she unites people, challenges taboos, and inspires Malaysian women to embrace both health and sustainability, highlighting how menstrual activism is inextricably linked to climate activism.

Have you ever stopped to consider how our choices shape women’s health, dignity and future? From the products we use to the way we speak, or do not dare to speak, about menstruation, the conversation has long been overdue.

Menstruation remains a subject the world cannot quite agree on. It is whispered about in private, sometimes shouted in protest, but never irrelevant.

In Malaysia, the consequences are stark. An estimated 2.4 billion sanitary products are discarded each year, taking centuries to decompose, while girls and women still face stigma, confusion and lack of access.

Against this harsh reality, Jia Hui, a nursing student from Malaysia, decided to speak out. The founder of Da Yi Ma projects, her mission is simple but impactful. To educate, tell stories and spread facts about menstruation to children and teenagers, and shape a better future.

How It All Started

“I am not satisfied with pads,” recalls Jia Hui, who first turned to the menstrual cup in search of alternatives. The learning curve was steep. Rather than deterring her, that struggle became a call to action.

Jia Hui founded the Da Yi Ma Project, named after the Chinese slang term for menstruation. Where others saw embarrassment, she saw opportunity. “It’s just a word,” she says, “and I think it’s a cute way to talk about menstruation. It doesn’t have to be shameful.”

She launched the Da Yi Ma Project under the Heroes of Hopes Project by Roots And Shoots Malaysia, which illuminates her ideas to help women and society. “I got a lot of discouragement, felt like I was going to collapse. But I firmly chose menstruation,” she recalled, with a pure heart to help people who are often overlooked.

Jia Hui said with hope in her eyes, “I just want to provide free menstrual cups to everyone.” But reality quickly set in, menstrual cups are usually highly priced, costing far more than disposable pads, and with her limited resources, she couldn’t help as much as she wished.

In fact, Jia Hui’s first experience with menstrual cups was not so easy. “I was struggling, and there’s no one I can ask for help.” But instead of discouraging her, the experience pushed her in the opposite direction. Jia Hui realised that if she felt lost, what about the many girls and women with even fewer resources?

That realisation shifted her focus to education. Through engaging menstrual hygiene workshops, she shared knowledge and hopes with young children. Not just with girls, but boys, too. “I wanted to help children get educated about menstruation,” she said.

She understood that the burden on the climate was great as well. So, she realised the challenges in front of her were massive.

Her goal was clear: to break taboos and build a future where menstruation is seen as natural, not shameful, and where everyone has equal access to menstrual products.

The change was visible. Children began to think out of the box, and voices and actions began to be expressed. They felt safe and confident in an environment where everyone accepts the same things, showing the power of togetherness.

Period Poverty Is An Illness

For many, the first period brings fear, confusion and a desperate urge to hide from reality. This sense of powerlessness is even greater for girls and women who face inequality in something as basic as access to sanitary products.

The lack of knowledge and access to pads often begins young, when girls don’t understand what’s happening to their bodies or how to handle it. However, the struggle doesn’t disappear with age; many adults experience the same uncertainty and hardship.

The consequences are heartbreaking. Girls skip school for days every month, and some young women even choose to get pregnant just to avoid having periods because, in their reality, food takes priority over pads.

“Period poverty is an illness,” Jia Hui said, a crisis born from inequality, stigma and neglect.

Through the Da Yi Ma Project, she began distributing free pads to those most in need, while also reminding people that change starts with education.

Where Education Meets Action

Jia Hui’s first opportunity came with a workshop for refugee students. “Some asked me why I didn’t help my people,” she recalled. She replied simply: “They already have support. I wanted to reach those who had no one.”

Even within her nursing field, she noticed gaps in knowledge. Some older lecturers had never even heard of menstrual cups. This was an eye-opening reminder of how little awareness exists beyond disposable pads.

That reinforced her belief that menstrual education has to start early, before misinformation, stigma, or fear take root. This is why she focuses on underprivileged children, helping them gain the knowledge and confidence to understand their bodies, their cycles and their choices.

The "Undisposable" Harm

The waste created by disposable products is staggering. Studies estimate that pads, tampons and their packaging generate more than 200,000 tonnes of waste every year, with pads made of around 90 per cent plastic. Fear and embarrassment often lead women to flush them down toilets, compounding pollution.

For Jia Hui, menstrual education and climate education are inseparable. “Every conversation matters, not only to break stigma, but also to inspire sustainable habits,” she says. When children learn early that reusable products exist, they are more likely to adopt sustainable habits that last a lifetime.

A menstrual cup can last up to a decade, replacing thousands of disposables, but affordability is a barrier. Prices are falling, from RM120 to around RM60, yet still far higher than pads. “We need support from the government,” she argues. “Subsidising prices for eco menstrual products would help a lot.”

Still, stigma lingers. Some fear menstrual cups might “break the hymen,” making them culturally inappropriate. These perceptions, shaped by tradition and misunderstanding, continue to create barriers. Yet, Jia Hui never imposes. “I should let them make their own choices, not make the choices for them,” she said.

“You can’t force someone to be brave overnight. But every conversation helps.”

For those who are uncomfortable with cups, Jia Hui and her volunteers introduce cloth pads, another reusable alternative. In fact, they sew them by hand. “Instead of giving away disposable pads, I wanted to provide reusable pads,” she explained.

The only challenge? They must be hand-washed, a task that can feel impractical in today’s fast-paced lifestyle. But to Jia Hui, it’s still a meaningful step toward sustainability.

I Have To Be Smart, Not Shy

Jia Hui shared a touching moment with the children: “They really appreciate learning the facts about menstrual cups and told me they would look into it.”

That small response meant everything to her. She didn’t need them to adopt the product immediately. Just knowing they were aware of its existence was enough. In that moment, Jia Hui felt a quiet happiness, a sense that the seed she planted was beginning to take root.

She often reminds the children with a simple but powerful phrase: “I have to be smart, not shy.” To her, it’s about showing them there’s nothing to fear, that menstruation is normal and that everyone deserves to be treated equally.

Beyond The Classroom

The Da Yi Ma Project now stretches well beyond workshops. At Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Jia Hui donated pads to help set up a “pad pantry” in campus toilets so that students in emergencies would never have to go without. A volunteer runs a women’s shelter in Ampang with Da Yi Ma Project’s support, distributing pads and mentoring volunteers to take leadership roles.

Beyond that, Da Yi Ma Projects is now rolling out a program called the Period Maps. These maps indicate locations where women can access pads during emergencies, as well as beverages for cramps or spare pants in case of stains.

It is an ambitious dream, but not impossible.

From Shame To Strength

From menstrual cups to pad pantries, from refugee workshops to eco-education, Jia Hui’s Da Yi Ma Project is quietly reshaping how Malaysia talks about menstruation.

Her vision is bold yet deeply human. A society where no one misses school because of their period, where no woman has to choose between food and pads, and where menstrual stigma no longer fuels shame, waste and silence.

At the heart of it, menstruation is not a burden to be hidden. It is a natural part of life. And through education, empowerment and action, it can become the foundation for dignity, equality and a healthier planet.

(Edited by Alka Kaur)

Our featured Eco-Hero

Da Yi Ma Project is a youth-led project under Roots and Shoots, empowering underprivileged children with menstrual hygiene workshops. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Da Yi Ma Project focuses on introducing eco menstrual products through period education to the young generation. You can reach out to them on Instagram: @dayimaproject

J-Lin

J-Lin , a student passionate about environmental sustainability and social well-being, with a strong interest in culture and communication. She actively participates in environmental and media-related volunteer work, seamlessly blending her passions and unwavering commitment to make a positive impact on both the planet and society.

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