Every girl deserves to show up - at school, in sport, in life - without shame, fear, or a lack of pads in her backpack.
But right now, millions of girls can’t. Some miss class every month because they don’t have safe, affordable period products. Others grow up believing their period is something to hide, not understand. That’s not just unfair - it’s a global failure of education and equality.
This year’s International Day of the Girl celebrates a powerful theme:
“The girl I am, the change I lead.”
It’s about recognising girls not as silent sufferers, but as the leaders of the change we all need. And when it comes to periods - that change starts with honesty, access, and confidence.
What Period Inequity Really Looks Like
Globally, 133 million girls are out of school today, and nearly 4 in 10 adolescent girls and young women won’t finish upper secondary school (United Nations).
At the same time, more than 500 million people still don’t have access to period products or menstrual education.
That means girls missing lessons. Women missing work. Whole communities growing up believing that periods are something to hide, not something completely natural.
And let’s be real - it’s not just happening elsewhere. Even here in the UK, 1 in 5 girls have struggled to afford period products. And the silence? It still lingers - in classrooms, workplaces, and even around dinner tables.
At WUKA, we believe in a world where no girl or woman has to choose between her period and her potential. It’s why we created reusable period pants - because one pair can replace hundreds of disposables, saving money, waste, and stress.
Period equity isn’t charity. It’s justice. And it’s a foundation for the change girls are already leading.
Why Period Equity Matters for Everyone
“The girl I am, the change I lead” means every girl deserves the tools to lead - and that includes control over her own body.
🩸 When we educate boys about menstruation, we raise allies - not eye-rollers.
🩸 When teachers and parents talk openly about periods, we raise girls who aren’t ashamed of their bodies.
🩸 And when governments make period care accessible, we raise societies that treat health as a right, not a privilege.
Talking about periods isn’t awkward - it’s revolutionary. Because confidence doesn’t start with power suits; it starts with body literacy.
The Power of Education
Knowledge is power - and it’s also peace.When a girl understands her cycle - what’s normal, what’s not, and how her hormones affect her - she starts to see her body not as a mystery, but as hers.
That’s why education sits at the heart of what we do. From first periods to menopause, we’re here to make conversations about bodies honest, empowering, and yes - a little bit fearless.
Read more about WUKA x Education here.
Sustainable Periods = Sustainable Futures
Period equity isn’t just about access - it’s about sustainability too. Because when girls can rely on long-lasting, reusable products, they’re not just saving money - they’re protecting the planet they’re inheriting.
Our Teen Stretch™ Period Pants are designed to grow up with you - comfy, leak-proof, and reusable for up to two years. That’s years of confidence in one pair.
And for adults? We’ve got your back, from light flow to heavy days. Because sustainable care should be for every body, at every age.
The Change Starts With You
This International Day of the Girl, we’re not just celebrating potential - we’re recognising power.
The girl you are today - the one learning, leading, and speaking up - is already changing the world.
So here’s how to keep that change going:
- Talk about periods openly - at home, at school, at work.
- Support initiatives that fight period poverty.
- Choose reusables to make access sustainable.
- Share your story - because your voice might be the one another girl needs to hear.
Because when girls can manage their periods with confidence, they don’t just stay in school - they lead the future.
The girl I am, the change I lead. That’s the message this world needs - and it starts with period equity.
When we give girls dignity, education, and access, we give them the power to lead change for generations.
This International Day of the Girl, let’s make sure every girl can show up - period or not.
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