13/03/2026
In a recent project planning exercise, which involved gathering data and having conversations with young ladies about their first period experience, one thing we continue to discover from a large percentage of the ladies is the lack of sufficient menstrual education before menarche.
Sadly, this remains one of the realities many young girls face today.
The shame that was already present even at that first moment, the lack of knowledge, and the fear—some even thought they had been injured or that something was wrong because they did not understand what was happening to their bodies.
Young girls should never feel shame about a normal biological process or feel confused about what is happening in their bodies.
This is why solutions aimed at curbing period poverty should not only focus on pads or underwear, but also on the education girls need to understand their bodies and what they are experiencing.
When girls receive accurate menstrual education before menarche, their first period can become a moment of understanding rather than fear. Combining access to menstrual products with honest, empowering education gives girls not just resources, but dignity.
This is why the exists, to bridge this gap, one girl at a time.
