International Women's Day 2025: Bright Futures in Sri Lanka

Challenges like period poverty stand in the way of girls reaching their full potential. Compassion’s local partners in Sri Lanka are changing that by providing practical support to help girls see a brighter future!

05 Mar, 2025

Here in Australia, a generation of young people are growing up with dreams to own a home, to reach their full potential and to build the future they envision. However, rising living costs, a housing crisis and an increasingly competitive job market, among other challenges, have left many in Generation Z uncertain and anxious about what lies ahead.

According to McCrindle, Gen Z’s biggest fears stem from the possibility of not achieving their future aspirations. With financial independence and home ownership as key goals, their top concern is lacking enough money to live comfortably (65 per cent). 61 per cent worry about being trapped in an unfulfilling job, 54 per cent fear falling short of their full potential and 41 per cent are anxious about not making a meaningful impact in the world.

With global social and political upheaval on the rise, young people face growing challenges that affect their future. For vulnerable girls in the developing world who share the same dreams, poverty adds yet another daunting barrier, making the path forward even harder to navigate.

How poverty affects young girls’ dreams

Poverty extends far beyond a lack of possessions. It is a complex, multi-dimensional issue that affects every aspect of a person’s life. It limits access to education, healthcare and basic necessities, trapping families in cycles of hardship for generations. Right now, 692 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty, including 333 million children who face hunger, inadequate healthcare and limited opportunities for a better future.

According to the United Nations, women are disproportionately affected by poverty. Today, over 10 per cent of women worldwide are trapped in extreme poverty, surviving on less than USD 2.15 a day. At the current rate of progress, an estimated 342 million women will still be living in extreme poverty by 2030.

This inequality is driven by systemic barriers, including workplace discrimination, limited access to financial resources and deeply rooted gender stereotypes. Women are often denied education, fair employment and leadership opportunities while carrying the burden of unpaid care and domestic work.

These challenges make it even more difficult for a young girl living in poverty to envision a brighter future. One major obstacle unique to women and girls is period poverty.

Period poverty in Sri Lanka

Period poverty has a global impact on women in both developing and developed nations. Period poverty for girls means lacking access to sanitary products, safe and hygienic facilities and the education needed to manage menstruation with dignity. It can lead to missed school days, health risks and social stigma, further limiting opportunities for girls to break the cycle of poverty.

In Sri Lanka, a significant barrier to girls' education is the lack of private toilets in households and public spaces. In many homes, having a separate toilet is considered a luxury.

“The mother, father and children all sleep in one place,” says Angel, a Compassion project director in Hatton, Sri Lanka. “Girls living in that situation don't have proper toilets. [They] don't have a separate area where they can change their clothes. Everyone is in one room. Sometimes even the kitchen is in that same room.”

For girls reaching puberty, having a private space to manage their menstruation can determine whether they stay in school or drop out. Without access to clean water and safe disposal facilities for sanitary products, many miss up to five days of school each month or leave education entirely. Additionally, without designated private spaces, girls risk facing harassment. These challenges also lead to girls limiting their food and drink intake, potentially resulting in malnutrition.

A lack of hygiene supplies adds to the struggle. Angel says many girls and women in their community rely on old rags or cloths cut from worn sarees and dresses to manage their periods, simply because they lack the knowledge, access or financial means to buy sanitary pads.

“There are very few people who use a good quality pad,” says Angel. “The reason is because it's too expensive.”

Without access to proper supplies, girls managing their periods face the risk of infections, discomfort and embarrassment. Many resort to unsafe alternatives, which can lead to health complications that keep girls from education and social opportunities.

But Compassion’s local partners are bringing transformation and hope to young girls in Sri Lanka through practical interventions and support.

Hope sees a brighter future

In Hatton, Sri Lanka, Angel and the local Compassion centre staff are dedicated to empowering young girls, providing them with education, essential supplies and facilities to help them overcome social and economic barriers.

“What we do mostly for the children is awareness programs through our curriculum,” says Angel. “Not only that, but [the staff] guide the child[ren] correctly.”

They equip young girls with crucial knowledge about their changing bodies and teach them how to manage their periods in a safe and healthy way. The centre also provides emergency sanitary supplies for those who lack access at home. Thanks to a generous donor, the Compassion centre was able to build a private toilet stocked with essentials and created a safe space where children can rest when unwell.

The impact has been life changing. Girls now have access to hygiene products, education and the support they need to manage their periods with dignity. Compassion’s local partners are not only helping girls stay in school but also encouraging them to dream big and take real steps toward achieving their goals.

Every dream needs a plan

Every girl deserves to dream, but every dream needs a plan. At Compassion, every child in our Child Sponsorship Program is encouraged to dream big. Through the My Plan for Tomorrow workbook, they map out their hopes, aspirations and the practical steps they’re taking to achieve them.

“My Plan for Tomorrow starts when the child is 12,” says Angeline, a Compassion project director in Colombo, Sri Lanka. “What is their goal? What is they are interested in? They have a clear plan about their future.”

Girls at this Compassion centre endure the harsh realities of poverty, yet with the support of dedicated staff and their My Plan for Tomorrow, they are daring to dream beyond their circumstances. Nineteen-year-old Shalini is one of these determined young women.

“I want to be a fashion designer,” says Shalini. “When I was a child, I liked to be creative and draw. I have so many designs!”

At her local child development centre, Shalini has the opportunity to design and create clothing for special events, honing her skills and passion for fashion. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Nishanthini, who dreams of becoming an HR manager, is receiving invaluable support from the centre staff as she works toward a promising future.

“I like to work with people. That’s why I chose this path,” says Nishanthini. “I finished my Advanced Level certificate and now I’m working on my diploma in HR management.”

They are not alone. Their friends, Sugikala and Shelani, also have big dreams—one aspiring to be an event planner and the other a psychologist. With practical support and concrete plans, these girls are taking meaningful steps toward building a brighter future.

“My Plan for Tomorrow is really useful because I have seen a big difference in children,” says Angeline. “Now they have a clear picture about their future. If you talk to them, they are very clear about their goals.”

Empower young girls with big dreams

This International Women’s Day, we want to empower girls in Sri Lanka to continue to dream by building toilets and providing clean water in local Compassion centres and in the homes of vulnerable families. Access to safe and hygienic facilities can be life-changing for a girl, allowing her to stay in school, maintain her health, protect herself from abuse and harassment, and focus on building a brighter future.

Today, you can show a young girl like Shalini that her dreams are not out of reach. You can empower young girls with big dreams!

Written and reported by Sidhara Udalagama, Compassion Australia.