In 2020,COVID-19 pulled at the heartstrings of 1.4 billion people.

 

As everyone else turned their attention to the collection of anti-epidemic materials, a 25-year-old woman turned her eyes to the needs of the women on the frontline.

 

This woman is Liang Yu.

 

During the epidemic, Liang coordinated the donation of sanitary products that met the needs of a total of 85,000 medical workers on the frontline.

 

As the epidemic came under control, she continued to lead a team of volunteers called “Walking With Her” and run the “Easy Period” project, turning the special assistance initiative during the epidemic into a long-term public welfare campaign.

 

I learned from the news that medics had to wear protective garments all day for 8–10 hours or even longer.

 

Then I learned that, of all the medics, women accounted for more than 70%.

 

It takes them more than one hour each day to get themselves dressed in protective garments.

 

Being a woman myself, instinctively I started wondering, how do they manage when they are on their periods?

 

I wanted to do something to help. 

 

On the night of February 6, I posted a message on Weibo to inquire about it.

 

Then I gathered some volunteers and started the donation.

 

It went on for 35 days.

 

We donated a total of 1.1 million sanitary items.

 

As the epidemic was raging at that time, there were a lot of things that you had to deal with.

 

You had to deal with hospitals, logistics companies, the warehouses and the suppliers.

 

You had to be there yourself for everything. 

 

So, everyone had their hands full at that time.

 

Every day we put up a notice board.

 

We got only three to four hours of sleep per day.

 

I think because it was at the height of the epidemic and everyone wanted to offer help to female medics working on the frontline, we ended up with a lot of support.

 

We had some difficulties, but they were unavoidable.

 

For example, we had to abide by the anti-epidemic requirements, and that brought us troubles with logistics and transportation.

 

There was a lot of coordination to do. 

 

There were some psychological issues, as well.

 

For example, the medics who worked on the frontline often felt stressed.

 

They called us a lot just to pour it out, and things like that. 

 

I think that apart from the sanitary items that were needed, we also helped in a psychological way.

 

They told us how grateful they were that people came specifically to care for them and that was what had kept them going despite the highly stressful working environment. 

 

Actually, after the “Sisterly Cooperation in Fighting COVID” initiative, we had wanted to just leave it there because we had been a team of volunteers.

 

Then the “Sanitary Pads in Bulk” became hotly discussed on the Internet, and a bunch of stories of girls flooded in.

 

That was when we realized that there were actually a lot of girls who used shoddy sanitary pads, and that some still used sanitary belts.

 

When they are on their periods they get vaginal itching or rashes.

 

We were so sorry to hear stories like these, so we decided that we should make it a long-term thing.

 

This is how we started the “Walking With Her” Public Welfare Foundation.

 

Throughout the process we promoted the “Sanitary Pad Box of Mutual Help”.

 

It started when a female teacher put a box of sanitary pads in the classroom so that girls who suddenly had their periods could use them.

 

But if she takes one out, she will have to put a new one back later.

 

It operates on a give-and-take basis. 

 

In just a few months over 500 schools across the country joined in the initiative.

 

Recently, some state-owned enterprises also joined.

 

We believe that in the future girls will come to see that sanitary pads are just as common as their periods and that there is no reason for them to feel ashamed or uneasy. 

 

I came across this data published by the UN some time ago that suggested that as a result of COVID-19 the social position of women could go backward 25 years. 

 

From the perspective of economic development or scientific advances, without the intellectual support and labor input from half of our population, the progress of society will be bound to slow down.

 

When it comes to the progress of society as a whole, the contribution of each and every community is indispensable. 

 

So, I am of the opinion that assistance to females is necessary.

 

First of all, the most important thing is that gender equality has been established as a basic state policy in our country.

 

As I have just mentioned, women account for half of our population.

 

Particularly, with the advances of science and technology, what we need is intellectual progress and industrial improvements.

 

This is a rigid demand, and no one should be left behind.

 

The rights and interests of women are closely related to the development of the entire society.

 

We cannot afford to ignore them. 

 

I know of a lot of girls who are very kind and nice and want to do something.

 

They often ask me what they can do to help women and society.

 

In fact, from the bottom of my heart I want to tell them that doing something for other people isn’t a must.

 

I have had personal contact with a lot of women in their senior years who have had a lot of experiences and are extremely outstanding at work.

 

They have helped me get rid of the stereotypical idea of elderly women.

 

I believe that women should be measured by more than just age and appearance. 

 

I hope every girl can make her life count, take care of herself and do her own job well.

 

Actually, looking back from where we now stand, We have gone through a lot of things, and done a great deal, over the past year.

 

Of course, we would like to carry on with these campaigns that bring help to girls. 

 

We will try to do our best.

 

There is still a long way to go and we are always on the road.