The large population of girls in India without the knowledge of what menstruation is or how to practice safe hygiene is detrimental to the future well-being of these women. Educating girls on menstrual hygiene not only prevents girls from developing compromising health conditions in the future, but it also lays the groundwork for women to feel empowered. Until and unless a woman is comfortable and proud of her own skin, a girls ability to flourish will be impaired. Aarogya Seva is hosting the first international conference on menstrual health in Bengaluru, India, called The Period Junction. While large strides have…

The year 2015 will end on a momentous note for my family--my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Not that the occasion matters to my father. Places, events, dates, anniversaries, birthdays, festivals, names, and sometimes, people too, have become forgotten memories for him. Because my father has dementia. And he is just one of the estimated 4.1 million people with the progressively degenerative condition in India (as per the World Alzheimer's Report 2015). September 21 was World Alzheimer's Day. What is dementia? According to the Alzheimer's Association of the US, “...dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes…