A recent article in The Standard, “Turning the Tide: How Menstrual Cups Are Fighting Period Poverty,” highlights the impact of menstrual cups in addressing period poverty across Kenya. The story reveals how organizations like Women Students’ Mentorship Association (WOSWA) and Hands of Grace Community Group have partnered with CouldYou? Cup to create sustainable change for women and girls.
Ending Unsafe Practices
The need is urgent and the statistics are sobering: girls miss up to four out of five school days monthly due to period-related issues, and in communities like Kibera, three out of ten girls report engaging in transactional sex simply to afford menstrual products.
As the article reveals, in areas like Kibera, many girls are trapped in a cycle of vulnerability and missed opportunities due to lack of affordable menstrual products.
CouldYou?’s Local Leaders Are Driving Change
Local leaders Mary Ojwang and Phyllis Mukasa champion the CouldYou? Cup—a medical-grade silicone cup lasting up to 10 years—to help break the cycle of period poverty. Their community-based approach not only addresses immediate needs but creates lasting change. Each cup reduces monthly expenses, mitigates health risks, and restores dignity for those who menstruate.
“We serve girls in Kibera, where period poverty is a huge issue,” explains Phyllis Mukasa, founder of Hands of Grace Community Group. “Through partnerships, we’ve distributed over 3,000 menstrual cups. Many of the girls we work with have had to skip school because they couldn’t afford pads.”
The program creates economic opportunities for marginalized women as well. “We also have the economic empowerment program where girls make these small pouches for the cups,” Mukasa shares. “The more bags you make, the more you earn. It is 0.87 dollars per bag.” This approach creates a virtuous cycle, addressing period poverty while simultaneously providing income for vulnerable women.
The Menstrual Cup Is a Sustainable Solution
The environmental impact is equally significant. While disposable menstrual products contribute approximately 150 million tons of waste annually, a single silicone cup provides a decade of protection with minimal environmental footprint.
According to the article, research indicates that a single woman using disposable pads generates approximately 125–150 kilograms of menstrual waste in her lifetime. In the United Kingdom alone, menstrual products generate approximately 200,000 tons of plastic waste each year. Most commercial pads contain up to 90% plastic, which contributes to pollution and takes hundreds of years to decompose.
The article also notes that unlike some commercial sanitary pads, which have been found to contain synthetic materials linked to chronic conditions, medical-grade silicone menstrual cups pose no health risks.
The economic argument is also compelling. “A pack of pads costs around 240 shillings, and most women need at least two per month. That’s nearly 5,000 shillings a year and up to 50,000 shillings over ten years. A menstrual cup, which costs about 1,500–2,500 shillings, eliminates that recurring expense,” Mary Ojwang from Women Students Mentorship Association (WOSWA) explains.
Breaking Cultural Myths and Stigmas
Despite cultural resistance and myths, comprehensive education programs are helping shift perspectives. As Esther eloquently states, “Cups aren’t just products; they’re tools of rebellion against period poverty. Every girl deserves this autonomy.”
Many concerns center around hygiene and ease of use, which advocates address through education. “Before we give the menstrual cup, we educate them, allow them to ask questions, and then when we answer the questions, by the end of the session, the girls who want to take a menstrual cup will raise their hands,” Mary explains.
Involving men and boys is also crucial. “We invite boys to our sessions. We teach them that menstruation is normal and that they should support, not shame, their female classmates. We also encourage men to buy cups for their wives, daughters, and sisters,” Phyllis notes.
Ending Period Poverty by 2040
The success of this initiative demonstrates how sustainable change thrives under grassroots leadership. By training teachers, parents, and health workers, advocates ensure that information on safe, hygienic cup usage spreads—shattering stigma and empowering entire communities.
As the article demonstrates, CouldYou? stands alongside local leaders to end period poverty through education and sustainable solutions, one conversation and one cup at a time.
As Mary Ojwang states in the article, “We need support from policymakers, philanthropists, and stakeholders to help communities accept menstrual cups as a viable solution.” With the growing acceptance of the CouldYou? Cup demonstrated throughout the article, there’s a clear path forward to helping girls stay in school, protect their health, and maintain their dignity.
