This is the first of a series of stories on how we can contribute to the world with #passion, #creativity, and #entrepreneurship. 

Meet Ivy, a 13-year-old, curious and talented girl who has dreams to be fulfilled, books to be read, education to be finished, and the world to be discovered. Ivy lives in poverty in a rural corner of her country of origin. She loves going to school and learning, and despite her impoverished circumstances, she believes in a better future.

And one day, she discovered blood flowing down her legs. She doesn’t know what is happening; no one has told her. She feels embarrassed and in pain; she doesn’t know what to do.

“I was that Ivy, and I am sure many of you were, too.”

The difference is that despite my impoverished beginnings, I received menstrual pads when they were needed. Associated shame and embarrassment guided me for years – but this was just a small challenge.

Ivy is in an even more difficult situation: neither she nor her family has the resources, monetary and otherwise, to take care of their needs. This leads to Ivy having to skip school whenever she has her period because, well – she cannot afford to buy pads! Skipping school has a ripple effect for Ivy; she misses weeks and months of education, which seems to be the only ticket away from a better future for her.

Ivy is not alone.

“There are over 500 Million Ivies worldwide, younger and older people who menstruate and whose access to adequate menstrual hygiene is very limited. Menstrual poverty is real, and it has worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Access to menstrual hygiene products is a significant challenge facing women and girls in developing countries and is a critical aspect of water sanitation and hygiene that is often overlooked. Close to 95 percent of girls miss school due to menstruation.

As I write this, a wave of sadness flushes over my body as it is still not clear to me why in the world where men invade countries, produce mass-destruction weapons, and spread hate and death, there are still Ivies who can’t go to school because there is no money in this world to cover their basic needs…

The sadness drives me to action – we can do something about it!

TBC…

P.S. Learn more about how you can take care of your skin with organic & vegan cosmetics, and by buying our products, you can support girls in need! https://organiccosmetics.ch/unsere-mission/