I learned a lot about the 17 SDGs and how crucial it is to familiarize yourself with them while working on this project. I was able to creatively use these goals to come up with a small presentation.

Creativity can be a powerful tool to shine a light on an issue that people care about by capturing their attention and engaging their emotions. Through innovative storytelling, visual arts, music, or even interactive experiences, creative approaches can effectively convey the significance of an issue. By presenting the problem in a unique way, creativity has the potential to inspire and raise awareness for individuals to take action. It allows for a fresh perspective that can break through the noise and resonate with people on a deeper level.

I decided to choose period poverty as my issue as it falls under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which is focused on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. SDG 5 specifically aims to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls, eliminate violence against them, ensure their full and effective participation in decision-making processes, and ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The issue of period poverty, which refers to the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and adequate sanitation facilities, is a highly neglected yet crucial topic that deserves attention. This problem affects millions of individuals worldwide, particularly women and girls in low-income communities. The lack of access to menstrual products not only poses significant health risks but also perpetuates gender inequality and reinforces harmful stigmas surrounding menstruation.

One crucial step in combating period poverty is implementing policy changes at the governmental level. Governments should recognize menstrual hygiene as a basic human right and prioritize it in their policies and budgets. This includes ensuring that menstrual hygiene products are exempt from taxes or made affordable through subsidies. Additionally, governments can mandate the provision of free menstrual hygiene products in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. Education plays a vital role in breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation and raising awareness about period poverty. Comprehensive menstrual health education should be integrated into school curricula to ensure that young people have accurate information about menstruation and understand its normalcy. Ensuring access to affordable and quality menstrual hygiene products is essential in addressing period poverty. Governments, NGOs, and private organizations should work together to distribute free or subsidized menstrual hygiene products to those in need. This can be done through partnerships with local communities, schools, healthcare facilities, and social welfare programs. Additionally, innovative solutions such as reusable sanitary pads or menstrual cups can be promoted as sustainable alternatives to disposable products. Community-led initiatives can be established to provide support, education, and resources to individuals who menstruate. These initiatives can involve local leaders, community health workers, and volunteers who can distribute menstrual hygiene products, conduct workshops, and provide counseling services. Engaging men and boys in these efforts is also important to challenge societal norms and promote gender equality.