Period poverty and girls’ education are closely linked. Worldwide, one in ten girls misses school days because of menstruation. In some countries the numbers are much higher. In Colombia, for example, 52 percent of girls miss classes because they lack access to period products. That is why a new project has launched in Colombia called The Period Uniform. It is a school uniform with built-in period underwear.

How period poverty affects girls’ education in Colombia

It comes as no surprise that so many girls in Colombia miss school because of their period. Around 32 percent of Colombians live on an average income of 25 dollars per week, while a pack of tampons costs about 4.4 dollars. A package of sanitary pads costs roughly 3.5 dollars. Although reusable pads are more affordable, girls need to wash them regularly, which often proves difficult at school. The same problem applies to menstrual cups, which require emptying during the day. On top of that, some schools lack basic facilities such as running water or waste bins in their toilets.

To address these barriers, Somos Martina, a developer of sustainable intimate care products, launched The Period Uniform. At the heart of the project lies period underwear designed to protect young girls from leaks for up to twelve hours. However, The Period Uniform focuses on more than just the product. The initiative works toward four main goals.

• Normalising menstrual protection

The project treats period underwear as a standard part of the school uniform, rather than as an extra product.

• Reducing the pressure on girls to talk about menstruation

Schools take responsibility and lead conversations with parents about the period underwear.

• Creating a scalable solution

Over time, the school uniform with period underwear aims to become the norm. Instead of a separate item purchased elsewhere, it forms a built-in option within the uniform package.

• Lowering costs

To encourage real use, schools keep prices low. They can purchase the uniforms at a cost comparable to regular underwear, while also gaining access to information and resources related to menstrual care.

Government support for period poverty and girls’ education in Colombia

Lucy Maritza Molina Acosta, Colombia’s Vice Minister of Education, openly supports the project. “It is essential to talk about menstrual health in education in Colombia. I believe menstrual care should be addressed in all schools,” she stated in an interview with Roastbrief.

Influential women from education, healthcare, media and the arts also back the initiative. Demente, a production company run entirely by women, produced the video shown above. In addition, Dr Laura Gil, a gynaecologist and advocate for reproductive rights, actively contributed her expertise. She offers medical and technical guidance to ensure the project meets health standards and reflects the real needs within education.

 

Period underwear, sports and fear of leaking

I consider The Period Uniform a very strong initiative. At the same time, the global picture shows how large the problem remains. Around interview with Roastbrief lack access to menstrual products and adequate sanitation. From that perspective, this project marks only a first step. That is exactly why more countries should adopt a similar approach.

We should also avoid presenting period poverty as an issue limited to low-income countries. It affects girls and women everywhere. On top of that, menstruation still carries a strong taboo. Adults, not young girls, keep that silence in place. In an earlier article, I interviewed menstruation expert Paula Kragten, who explained how this lack of openness can seriously affect the workplace.

For many years, the sports world avoided menstruation as a topic as well. Recently, more elite athletes have started to break that silence. They speak openly about cramps and challenge the use of white sports uniforms. During your period, the last thing you want is clothing that makes every stain visible. Fortunately, brands now actively develop leak-proof underwear designed specifically for elite athletes.

In short, The Period Uniform demonstrates how powerful this kind of initiative can be. Many countries can learn from this example. At the same time, the taboo around menstruation has not disappeared, no matter where you live. That is precisely why we need to keep the conversation going.

 

Want to read more about menstruation, school uniforms and inequality in education?

These articles connect closely to this topic:

• How school uniforms discriminate and are still allowed

• This is how menstruation affects your personal protective equipment

• New research shows that the benefits of school uniforms are assumptions

 

Greetings,

Aileen