Three Class X students of Modern High School are using their pocket money to help poor children maintain hygiene during the ongoing pandemic.

Besties Adya Nathany, Vashita Rungta and Akshita Poddar have used their time at home for the past year to spread awareness on menstrual hygiene on social media. This year, they took their cause a few notches higher by distributing hygiene kits to children for whom frequent sanitising and social distancing are a luxury.

“We first decided to spread awareness about Covid-19 and the necessity of hygiene to these students,” said Adya who, along with her friends, is spreading awareness through online sessions among the NGO kids and those studying in government-aided schools.From spreading knowledge and starting a dialogue to distributing the hand-made hygiene kits — the students have come a long way. They have named their initiative Sahyog and its long-term goal is to fight “period poverty”.

“It was important to make children interact about menstrual hygiene. Initially, they would not open up and share their problems with us. This year, we put in our pocket money to make safety kits for those. Every kit includes a soap, an antiseptic liquid, a sachet of oral rehydration salts, face mask and sanitary pads. We have already distributed it to 1000 children and plan to cover 1,000 more by next month,” said Vashita. They have also contributed for oxygen cylinders to NGO Knognat Foundation that is setting up a Covid care unit.

A few years ago, the term friendship had a different connotation for this trio. “We would chatter over tiffin, share our common love for sports and fight for K-pop or One Direction. School used to be just fun. Now it’s time to be responsible, too,” chipped in Akshita.

The three plan to carry on with the project, even after they leave school. They are also getting volunteers to help them out.“Since past month, when the number of Covid positive people had peaked, we have been making hygiene kits at home in leisure time. The first lot was distributed among the NGO children. We hope to give away the next lot in the slums near our locality,” said Dover Road resident Adya.

The trio are also planning an online fundraiser to fund more kits in the coming months. They already conducted one to help Amphan victims last year.

“Helping society is part of our students’ DNA. That’s the school’s mission and vision. Students grow up with the consciousness that they must help people around them. Our alumni have also done some great work. But it’s not just the school’s credit. Students can help only if their parents are supportive. Often, they are equally involved,” said Modern High School director Devi Kar.