A Global Issue — Not Just “Over There”: Why Menstrual Equity Matters Everywhere

When we talk about menstrual health inequity, it’s easy to imagine it as a problem faced elsewhere — in remote villages, underserved schools, or developing regions. But the truth is, period poverty is a global issue that affects women and girls in Uganda, the United States, and everywhere in between.

The FIESTA startup community in Austin is where powerful connections are born. That’s where Juliana Derr from The Kind Power met Omondi Eric, founder of Esonga Menstrual Care in Uganda. What started as a conversation has now grown into a partnership with real impact. Together, we’re excited to support Esonga and extend our resources, knowledge, and reach to empower women and girls across Africa — while also learning lessons we can bring back home.

That’s what makes this partnership so important: it’s not just about helping “over there,” but about building a global movement where ideas and solutions flow across borders, multiplying impact everywhere.

About Esonga Menstrual Care

Esonga is building Africa’s most sustainable menstrual health ecosystem, tackling the issue from multiple angles:

• Mobile Hygiene Kiosks: Providing safe, private spaces where women can manage their menstrual health with dignity.

• Product Distribution: Affordable menstrual products, including eco-friendly reusable pads, reaching last-mile communities.

• Waste Recovery: Innovating ways to manage menstrual waste responsibly and sustainably.

• Education & Awareness: Leading conversations that break stigma and equip communities with the knowledge to embrace menstrual health openly.

  
  

  

Their Impact

• Thousands of women and girls in rural Uganda now have consistent access to menstrual care.

• Girls are staying in school longer, no longer forced to miss classes due to lack of products.

• Women are healthier, safer, and better able to participate in work and community life.

• The environment benefits too, thanks to reusable products and waste recovery initiatives.

Esonga is proving that menstrual health solutions can be holistic, sustainable, and scalable.

Why This Matters in the U.S.

Period poverty is not confined to Africa. In the United States:

• Nearly two-thirds of low-income women report struggling to afford menstrual products at some point in the past year.

• Women experiencing homelessness face compounded challenges: lack of access not only to products but also to safe, private facilities.

• Stigma still surrounds menstruation, leaving many without the education or advocacy needed to change the system.

This is why Esonga’s model matters everywhere. Mobile access, reusable products, waste recovery, and community-centered education can inspire solutions that work just as powerfully in Los Angeles, New York, or Austin as they do in Busia, Uganda.

The Role of Education and Technology

Access to products is only part of the solution. True change comes when education shifts cultural attitudes and equips women and girls with confidence and knowledge. That’s where The Kind Power’s Kind Quest platform can accelerate impact.

Kind Quest is a gamified, trauma-informed mobile app that leverages AI and immersive learning to make education accessible, engaging, and scalable. By integrating with Esonga’s community programs, it can:

• Deliver localized menstrual health education in culturally relevant formats, from Uganda to the U.S.

• Provide trauma-informed content that helps build resilience, confidence, and self-worth among girls navigating stigma or poverty.

• Enable AI-driven personalization, adapting learning to individual users, whether they’re a teenager in Kampala or a woman experiencing homelessness in New York.

• Create a global knowledge hub, where solutions are shared across borders, allowing communities to learn from each other in real time.

  
  

By combining Esonga’s grassroots innovation with Kind Quest’s digital reach, we can ensure that no girl or woman is left behind, no matter where she lives.

How You Can Help

This is a movement that thrives on collaboration. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Fund: Help expand Esonga’s kiosks and product distribution in underserved communities.

• Partner: Collaborate with us on technology, education, or health initiatives that scale impact.

• Advocate: Speak out about period poverty — not just abroad, but in your own community.

• Engage Locally: Volunteer or support shelters, schools, and nonprofits addressing menstrual equity in your city.

Conclusion

Menstrual equity is not just “their problem” — it is a global human rights issue. From rural Uganda to urban America, the barriers may look different, but the stakes are the same: dignity, health, opportunity, and equality.

By partnering with Esonga Menstrual Care and leveraging platforms like Kind Quest, The Kind Power is helping to create solutions that are both community-driven and globally connected.

Because menstrual equity matters everywhere — and when we come together, impact multiplies across borders and generations. 🚀