Boys aged 8–18 frequently face bullying, low school attendance, and social stigma due to poor hygiene. Many come from low-income households where purchasing hygiene products is not always a priority due to financial constraints. Without proper hygiene, boys experience low self-esteem, social isolation, and mental health struggles, creating barriers to their academic and personal success. Our initiative seeks to directly impact youth from low-income families, foster care systems, schools, and community programs, ensuring that every boy has the resources needed to maintain hygiene, build confidence, and develop resilience.

Through personal experiences and community observations, I have recognized that hygiene poverty is an important and often overlooked issue. Youth who lack access to essential hygiene products suffer not only from health problems but also from diminished self-worth and social exclusion. I personally understand the importance of self-care. When my mother had slow weeks at work, I often had to go without necessary hygiene products, which affected my confidence and sense of well-being. This initiative is deeply personal, and I am committed to making sure no other boy feels the same sense of embarrassment or isolation due to lack of hygiene access or products. In addition to hygiene products, another important resources is building boys mental resilience through solution thinking to help with mental capacity to overcome obstacles or challenges.

Our project will distribute hygiene care packages alongside the inspirational youth resilience book Don’t Quit: This Is Not the End to boys in need within the community or in community in schools programs within schools. These care packages will include essentials such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouth wash, combs, brush, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, facial cleansers, nail clippers, and deodorant. By pairing these hygiene kits with a motivational book, we will not only address their physical needs but also offer encouragement, resilience, and self-belief.

To implement this project, our next 3 steps will be:

• Launch a Community Drive and Organize Assembly Events : Collaborate with Boys Matter 2 Men, Community In Schools (CIS), and local businesses to collect hygiene products. Engage volunteers and male mentors in packing hygiene kits, fostering community involvement.
• Distribute to Youth: Provide care packages through schools, foster care facilities, and community organizations serving at-risk boys.
• Raise Awareness: Host free webinars and community education workshops on hygiene, self-care, and mental wellness.

Our goal is to provide 50 hygiene and mental resilience kits in the first year and create sustainable solutions for youth hygiene needs. The $1,000 will help us support 50 boys. If we are awarded  $5,000 then we would be able to meet our goal and support 200 boys.

Our initiative is supported by Boys Matter 2 Men, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring young boys. Their network of male mentors and youth mentees will assist in facilitating community drives, assembling hygiene kits, and mentoring boys receiving the care packages.

We will also collaborate with:

• Community In Schools (CIS): A nonprofit supporting youth in school settings, helping us reach more students in need.
• Local Businesses and Faith-Based Organizations: Partnering to collect donations and raise awareness.
• Volunteers and Parents: Engaging community members to ensure sustained impact and support.

Hygiene poverty is a hidden crisis, but we will bring it to the forefront through:

• Social Media Awareness Campaigns: Sharing information about hygiene poverty to build and raise awareness and drive action.
• Community Workshops & Webinars: Educating families and educators on the importance of hygiene and mental wellness.
• Engagement with Local Media & Schools: Partnering with schools to identify students in need through CIS programs and advocate for long term solutions.