After surviving a near-fatal accident, Sandy Khanda transformed personal adversity into a nationwide movement that is helping break menstrual taboos, promote sustainable living, and empower communities across 18 states.
For many people, a life-altering accident marks the end of one chapter. For social entrepreneur Sandy Khanda, it became the beginning of a mission that has since touched the lives of over 2 lakh women, students and families across India.
Following a near-fatal road accident in 2016, months of recovery led him to rethink his purpose, ultimately inspiring him to establish the Green Pencil Foundation in 2019.
What started as one individual’s search for meaning has evolved into a grassroots movement working at the intersection of menstrual health, education, climate action and community development. Guided by the belief that sustainable social change must emerge from local communities themselves, the Foundation now partners with schools, volunteers, corporates and government agencies to build healthier and more resilient communities.
Breaking Menstrual Taboos Through Community-Led Conversations
While access to menstrual products remains important, Sandy Khanda realised that the bigger challenge lay in breaking generations of silence surrounding menstruation. Through its flagship initiative, Periods of Pride, the Green Pencil Foundation focuses not only on menstrual hygiene awareness but also on restoring dignity, confidence and informed choice among women and girls.
Rather than relying on one-way awareness campaigns, the Foundation adopted a community-first approach. Local women leaders, health workers and volunteers facilitate safe conversations, while men and boys are actively included to help dismantle long-standing stigma.
This shift from lectures to dialogue has enabled women to speak openly about menstrual health in communities where the topic was once considered taboo.
Recognising the environmental impact of disposable sanitary pads, the Foundation also transitioned towards promoting reusable cloth pads. Through demonstrations and awareness sessions, women learn how reusable products can reduce household expenses while significantly cutting plastic waste, making menstrual health both affordable and environmentally sustainable.
Today, the organisation says Periods of Pride has reached over 200,000 women and girls, distributing 20,000 reusable cloth pads across schools and rural communities while encouraging sustainable menstrual practices.
Education, Sustainability & Community Development
Beyond menstrual health, the Green Pencil Foundation addresses interconnected social challenges through education and environmental initiatives.
Its Slum to School programme works with children from underserved urban communities by reducing financial barriers to education through school bags, books, uniforms, stationery and mentorship. Community meetings and parent engagement encourage families to view education as a long-term investment rather than an immediate economic sacrifice.
On the environmental front, the Foundation conducts plantation drives, Yamuna River clean-up campaigns, climate education workshops and zero-waste initiatives that encourage behavioural change alongside ecological restoration.
Schools receive awareness programmes promoting sustainable habits through reusable alternatives such as cloth bags and steel water bottles.
Rather than implementing a single nationwide model, the Foundation adapts its approach to local contexts. Mobile awareness sessions serve remote Himalayan villages, Marathi-speaking volunteers lead programmes in Maharashtra, while religious and community leaders help build trust in Punjab. This locally tailored strategy enables the organisation to maintain consistent objectives while respecting regional cultures and traditions.
Scaling Community Impact Across India
Since its establishment in 2019, the Green Pencil Foundation has expanded its work across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Manipur, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The organisation reports that it has:
- Reached 200,000+ women and girls through Periods of Pride
- Distributed 20,000+ reusable cloth pads
- Engaged 400+ schools in menstrual hygiene and climate education
- Trained 1,500+ students under the Clean and Green Faridabad Mission
- Distributed 5,000 steel bottles, 12,000 cloth bags and 5,000 sustainable hygiene products
- Planted 50,000 saplings
- Helped transition hundreds of children from urban slums into formal schools
- Mobilised thousands of volunteers for environmental restoration and community campaigns
The Foundation attributes its growth to collaborations with corporate partners including Imperial Auto Industries, Maruti Suzuki, Suzuki India, Ingenious E Brain Pvt. Ltd., 1Point1 Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Siya Ayurveda, alongside partnerships with ministries such as the Ministry of Social Justice, Ministry of Environment & Forests, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Its programmes also align with national initiatives including Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, Prime Minister’s Vikshit Bharat Mission, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Looking ahead, the Foundation aims to directly impact 2 million young people by 2027 through expanded work in menstrual hygiene management, climate action and youth development.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Across India, conversations around menstruation, education and sustainability often remain fragmented, despite their deep interconnection with health, dignity and opportunity. Sandy Khanda’s journey demonstrates how personal adversity can inspire community-driven solutions that address these challenges together rather than in isolation.
By combining menstrual health awareness with environmental responsibility, educational access and grassroots participation, the Green Pencil Foundation presents a model that places local communities at the centre of social transformation.
Equally significant is the organisation’s emphasis on long-term behavioural change instead of one-time interventions. From encouraging reusable menstrual products to empowering local volunteers and adapting programmes to regional realities, its work highlights that lasting impact depends on trust, participation and sustained engagement.
As India continues to address gender equality, climate resilience and educational inclusion, community-led initiatives such as these offer valuable lessons on building change that is both scalable and locally rooted.
How can governments, civil society organisations, educational institutions and corporate partners collaborate to scale integrated, community-led models that advance menstrual health, environmental sustainability and educational opportunity across underserved regions of India?
Also Read: Kolkata’s First Singaporean Cafe Creates Dignified Employment And Hope For Trafficked Women
