Migrant Domestic Workers and Menstrual Health: Insights from Flow Forward

Last night, LUÜNA co-hosted Flow Forward with Femtech Future, bringing together changemakers to explore the intersection of migrant domestic workers' well-being and menstrual health. We were honored to have Eny Bawse, a domestic worker and founder of Self Love Cupid, as our special guest speaker.

A Warrior and a Goddess: Eny Bawse's Story

With two decades of experience as a domestic worker in Hong Kong, Eny Bawse has become a leading advocate for the well-being of her peers. As the founder of Self Love Cupid, she dedicates her day off each week to providing support, advocacy, and creative education on mental health for migrant workers.

Eny describes herself as an “accidental activist.” Her work is inspired by her own journey of navigating the challenges of life as a migrant domestic worker—challenges that have shaped her mission to uplift others. Eny works to empower caregivers and create stronger networks of support for those who dedicate their lives to helping others.

Eny’s Recommendations for Employers

Her message to the audience at Flow Forward was clear: small acts of empathy can significantly improve the lives of domestic workers, such as:

• Ensuring access to period care products
• Understanding when someone may need rest during the first days of their period

Breaking Taboos and Supporting Financial Independence

Eny’s reflections highlight the transformative power of creating an environment where menstruation is recognized as a positive and healthy part of life. When stigma is replaced with understanding, and when women have access to healthy organic period care products, it empowers migrant workers to take control of their menstrual health. This shift not only supports their well-being but also fosters dignity and confidence, enabling them to navigate their lives with greater ease and resilience.

Over years of working, the cumulative cost of menstrual products can significantly impact domestic workers’ ability to save for their future, creating an often-overlooked financial strain. In a recent survey conducted by HelperChoice and LUÜNA, 28% of migrant domestic workers reported that the expense of menstrual products remains a financial burden.

This burden is echoed in the stories of women like Judy, who shared her experience with LUÜNA at an educational event co-hosted with Pathfinders. Heavy bleeding and a lack of access to information about menstrual health had impacted Judy’s life for years, but learning about her options and accessing free period care products brought much-needed relief. (Read Judy's full story here.)

LUÜNA’s partnerships with organizations like Pathfinders and Peduli Kasih, a community group supporting domestic workers in Hong Kong, highlight how education and access can create meaningful change. By combining workshops, peer-to-peer learning, and sustainable period care, we’re building communities where women feel empowered to take control of their health and futures.

LUÜNA pad distribution at Pathfinders @ Women's Health Fair

How You Can Help: Support LUÜNA’s #BreakTheStigma Campaign

By sponsoring period care products, you’re directly helping migrant workers in Hong Kong access the essentials they need to manage their cycles comfortably and confidently.

💌 Here’s how you can make an impact:

• When you purchase our Limited Edition #BreakTheStigma Cap, you sponsor 150 organic cotton pads—enough to cover around five months of period care for women in need.

🌟 Our Goal:

To deliver 30,000 organic cotton pads to our charity partners next quarter, we need to sell 200 caps by January 1, 2025.

📦 Where do the pads go?

The pads will be delivered to our charity partners, who ensure they reach the communities that need them most.

Together, we can break the stigma surrounding menstrual health and provide much-needed relief to Hong Kong’s migrant workers. Support our mission today and purchase a #BreakTheStigma cap here: https://bit.ly/breakthestigma-cap

About Flow Forward

Flow Forward is a quarterly event series designed to spark meaningful change and drive progress toward gender equity. Rooted in the belief that impactful conversations can inspire actionable solutions, it brings together changemakers from Women’s Networks, DEI, well-being, social impact, and anyone who wants to learn teams to tackle the most pressing gaps in women’s health and well-being.

Co-hosted by Olivia Cotes-James, Founder of LUÜNA, and Maaike Steinebach, CEO of FemTech Future, this series provides a welcoming space for changemakers to connect, share ideas, and take action. Each event focuses on addressing critical gaps in women’s health as a pathway to creating a more equitable future.

We’re excited to continue growing this community with quarterly events in 2025. Stay tuned for upcoming events—we look forward to seeing you there!