ABOUT THE ISSUE
Globally, an estimated 500 million women deal with period poverty each month*
Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, hand-washing facilities, toilets, menstrual health education, and waste management.**
Though the term "period poverty" is relatively new, the awareness and discussion of this global menstrual health issue and its stigma have long been recognized.
Girls who don’t have supplies often miss school and drop out.
These challenges reverberate into ongoing poverty and lack of access to educational opportunities, which are directly linked to human trafficking vulnerability, abuse, and forced child marriage. Wunders is working to change this reality.
“Recently, while visiting with the Thrive Juniors at Mathare slums, a Thrive Junior girl asked for prayers regarding some of the challenges they encounter. Men are offering to sleep with the girls so the girls can get the funds to buy sanitary towels [pads] which cost approximately $0.50. This is a huge challenge especially now that covid-19 has affected most of their parents' jobs which has made life even more difficult.”
— Lillian, Thrive and Set Free Movement leader.
But we have hope.
The power of investing in girls and women is evident. The economic opportunity from educating and keeping girls in school doesn’t stop within the family but creates a ripple effect into her community.
Sources:
*https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/period-poverty ** Ibid.
1: World Bank, Menstrual Hygiene Management 2: UNESDOC, Puberty education & menstrual hygiene management
3: Menstrual Health in Kenya, Country Landscape Analysis, FSG Report 4: GlobalCitizen, Period Poverty, Stigma Are Keeping Girls Out of School