Transforming Period Poverty Sustainably
Period Poverty
Global Statistics
Globally, an estimated 500 million people experience period poverty, struggling to afford or access the products necessary to manage their menstrual health. This challenge is especially acute in low-income countries, where cultural stigmas and inadequate sanitation facilities further hinder women’s and girls’ ability to manage their periods safely and hygienically (UN Women) (Citron Hygiene).
U.S. Statistics
In the United States, period poverty remains a critical issue, with 1 in 4 teens and 1 in 3 adults facing difficulties affording menstrual products. The problem is even more pronounced among low-income groups, people of color, and those living in rural areas. For instance, a study in St. Louis found that 64% of low-income women were unable to afford menstrual products in the previous year, resorting to alternatives like rags, paper towels, or children’s diapers (Harvard Public Health Magazine) (DignityGrows).
There is an urgent need for policies and programs that provide access to affordable menstrual products and comprehensive education on menstrual health. Addressing period poverty is crucial to improving the health, education, and dignity of millions of women and girls worldwide.
Empowering Menstrual Health: Breaking the Silence, Ending the Stigma, and Tackling Period Poverty with Sustainable Solutions
TERJA’s Reusable Sanitary Pads Project originated as an extension of the storytelling initiative at Namasanda Primary School in Western Kenya. With TERJA’s support, three students and their mothers launched this project to provide sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions, improve school attendance, and empower the local community. The project has made a significant impact by conducting menstrual health workshops and sewing over 250 reusable pads, which have benefited 50 students, each receiving five pads and a bar of soap. Additionally, these students are now passing on their knowledge, teaching other young girls how to sew reusable pads. Testimonials from the community highlight improvements in school attendance and increased self-esteem among the girls involved.
Menstrual Health Awareness in Houston
In February 2024, TERJA partnered with Dapper Daisy LLC, a tailoring company specializing in custom women’s clothing, to address period poverty and promote menstrual health equity for youth in Houston. This collaboration expanded the Reusable Sanitary Pads Project from Kenya to Houston. The initiative now includes Menstrual Health workshops designed to raise awareness of period poverty and advocate for sustainable, eco-friendly solutions. During these workshops, young girls and women learn how to create reusable sanitary pads and underwear using organic, natural, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic materials.
Our Reusable Sanitary Pads
Made from natural, biodegradable local materials, our reusable sanitary pads break down much more quickly and safely when discarded compared to synthetic disposable pads, which contain plastics and chemicals that persist in the environment.
These reusable sanitary pads as well as underwear created from natural materials will be created at our workshop by young girls and women in the community.
