International Women’s Day 2025: She Sees a Brighter Future

“When I think about my future, I picture myself as a doctor and speaking five languages. I know it sounds crazy, but I will fight for it,” says 13-year-old Monserrath from Honduras. Monserrath has big dreams and is determined not to let the challenges of period poverty hold her back. Discover how she and many other girls are overcoming barriers and moving towards a brighter future with help from Compassion’s local partners.

28 Feb, 2025

Every girl deserves to dream.
Every girl deserves to see a future that is bright and full of possibility.
Every girl deserves to be heard, valued and empowered to reach her full potential.

Yet in 2025, girls and women around the world are still battling social and economic challenges that keep these dreams and bright futures at bay. While much progress has been made, the numbers tell us there is still a long way to go.

According to the United Nations:

• One in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty.
  
• Since 2017, the number of women and girls living in conflict-affected areas has doubled, reaching over 614 million. In these regions, women are 7.7 times more likely to experience extreme poverty than men.
• At prime working age, only 61 per cent of women participate in the labour force compared with 90 per cent of men.
  

The road to equality is long, but every step forward brings us closer to a world where every girl’s dreams can become reality. This International Women’s Day, we can continue to take strides toward building a brighter future. But where do we start?

A silent barrier to development

Somewhere in the world, a girl wakes up with an unusual feeling in her stomach. It’s one felt by millions of women around the world, but for a young girl living in poverty, getting her period brings challenges far beyond discomfort.

“We didn't have pads at home that day, so I used some rags. I was disgusted with all the blood. I hated myself,” says Maria Rita, who lives in Brazil. “I cried in the bathroom because I didn't want to be a girl anymore if I had to go through that.”

Maria Rita was 12 years old when she experienced her first period. Many girls are prepared for this day, but she was not. Some girls have all the supplies and support necessary to feel clean, safe, and protected, but this is not the case for millions of young girls around the world who live in poverty. This global issue is known as period poverty and affects women in both developed and developing nations.

Many girls and women lack access to sanitary pads or essential supplies to manage their menstrual cycles. In some rural Sri Lankan communities, pads are seen as almost a luxury item, while in Malawi, a single pack costs more than a day’s wages. For many families, the choice is clear: limited resources are prioritised for food and other necessities, while menstrual health is often dismissed as a ‘women’s issue.’ This harsh reality is one that Adrienne faces daily in her community in Togo.

"On average, one packet of 10 period pads costs [1.60 AUD]. These are the lowest quality,” says Adrienne. “But every girl cannot afford it, not even the lowest quality ones, due to lack of money. So, they use folded pieces of cloth instead of pads.”

Beyond the lack of hygiene supplies, many girls and women in developing countries also face the weight of social stigma. In many parts of the world, menstruation remains a taboo topic, shrouded in silence and misconception. Deeply rooted cultural and religious norms often label it as shameful or impure, reinforcing barriers to open discussions. This stigma not only prevents vital conversations but also restricts access to essential information and resources, leaving countless young girls uninformed and unprepared for a natural part of life.

In Brazil, girls like Maria Rita are reprimanded for engaging in certain activities while on their period. “Elders say that we cannot eat watermelon, pineapple, eggs or drink milk when menstruating. Nor can we walk under the sun, pass under a lemon tree or walk barefoot,” says Maria Rita.

“They also say that we cannot ride any animal, like a horse, otherwise it will die, because our blood is rotten.”

Poverty also leaves many young girls and women without proper hygiene facilities to manage their menstrual cycles, which has a profound impact on their daily lives and wellbeing.

It is estimated that at least 500 million women and girls globally lack access to the sanitation facilities they need to manage their periods.

The absence of proper water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, especially in public spaces like schools, workplaces and healthcare centres, presents significant challenges for women and girls. Without access to private, secure toilets with doors, or the means to safely dispose of used sanitary pads and wash hands, women and girls struggle to manage their menstrual hygiene in a way that is both private and dignified.

This has a profound and devastating impact on their future, limiting their ability to make their dreams a reality.

How does period poverty affect a girl’s future?

Menstrual health is a basic human right.

It impacts all areas of life: poor menstrual hygiene can lead to serious health problems, while the inability to manage menstrual care in schools often results in absenteeism and higher dropout rates. Jacqueline, a Compassion centre director in Togo explains that many girls miss school exams if they can’t keep themselves clean and safe.

“Over time, some of them feel so discouraged that they abandon school,” says Jacqueline.

Period poverty also hampers inclusive and sustainable economic growth by restricting women’s ability to fully participate in the workforce due to inadequate menstrual hygiene management. Additionally, the cultural taboos and societal norms surrounding menstruation reinforce gender discrimination, limiting women’s access to education and economic opportunities, and ultimately hindering their potential to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

When a girl’s basic human needs are out of reach, dreams can feel impossibly distant.

Period poverty in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island nation with a population of over 22 million—51 per cent of whom are women. Despite impressive health outcomes in maternal and child health, social and cultural norms, misconceptions, the high cost of menstrual products, and limited access to sanitation facilities contribute to poor menstrual health and hygiene management for many girls and women around the country.

Compassion has been working in Sri Lanka since 2010, partnering with over 135 local partners to love, serve and care for more than 29,800 children across the island. Our local partners have invaluable, firsthand knowledge of the challenges girls face, particularly in rural communities.

A significant barrier to girls' education is the lack of private toilets in households. In many homes, having a separate toilet is considered a luxury. For girls entering puberty, the availability of a private space to manage menstruation can be the deciding factor in whether they continue their education. Without access to water and a safe space for disposal of sanitary products, girls may miss up to five days of school each month or, in some cases, drop out entirely. Additionally, without designated private spaces, girls risk facing harassment. These challenges also lead to girls limiting their food and drink intake, resulting in potential malnutrition.

Compassion's child development centres in Mannar and Batticaloa support some of Sri Lanka's most vulnerable children. These communities face significant challenges in terms of access to toilets and sanitation, which are a barrier to a child’s holistic development. Caregivers often struggle to provide for their children due to low income, poor health, lack of education and financial instability. Many families don’t have private toilets, and some children have never seen a proper toilet until enrolling in Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program. Many households rely on shared neighbourhood toilets or use other communal facilities. In some cases, children are forced to defecate in open spaces or the jungle, putting them at high risk for abuse, snake bites and other dangers.

But Compassion’s local partners are making a difference, not just in Sri Lanka but also around the world.

Every girl deserves to see a brighter future

Adrienne thought the changes of becoming a woman would limit her, but she found education, protection and empowerment at her Compassion centre in Togo.

“I feel so grateful for the centre. Without their support, my life would have been a failure,” says Adrienne. “I would have dropped out of school a long time ago and may be married with kids or become a prostitute. But no, I'll be a journalist!”

Maria Rita's child development centre in Brazil runs a support group for girls, where volunteers provide education and guidance on puberty. Through this initiative, Maria Rita has come to view menstruation not as something shameful, but as a natural and normal part of a girl's life.

“I don't feel embarrassed for who I am anymore. I love being a woman and because of that, I want people to respect women,” says Maria Rita. “I want to become a lawyer or a judge and become an example for other girls.”

Monserrath is grateful for her centre in Honduras. She has big dreams and wants to be an agent of change in her community.

“When I think about my future, I picture myself as a doctor and speaking five languages. I know it sounds crazy, but I will fight for it,” says Monserrath. “I also want to be an advocate for children and women's rights.”

Child developments centres around the world advocate for girls, support their education, safety, health and future. In some cases, the only access a vulnerable girl has to a safe toilet and essential menstruation supplies is through their local centre.

In Sri Lanka, Compassion’s local partners are teaching young girls and their families about clean water, sanitation and hygiene practices. While these programs have led to significant improvements in cleanliness and health, transforming an entire generation will require continued support and additional resources.

This International Women’s Day, you can empower girls in Sri Lanka to continue to dream by donating to build and renovate toilets in local Compassion centres and in the homes of vulnerable families. Your support will also help install a tubewell, providing clean water to an entire community. 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.

Tomorrow, somewhere in the world, a girl will wake up. She deserves to dream. She deserves to see a brighter future that’s full of possibility. Will you be part of a compassionate neighbourhood that helps that dream become a reality?

Every girl deserves to dream of a brighter future, but every dream needs a plan. Discover how Compassion’s local partners are empowering vulnerable girls with the practical support and resources they need to achieve their goals. Hope envisions a brighter future and every step forward brings it closer.

Part two coming soon.

Written by Sidhara Udalagama, Compassion Australia, with local reporting by Sara Navarro, Compassion Brazil; Juana Ordonez, Compassion Honduras; Akpene Samaty, Compassion Togo; and Odessa Balasingh, Compassion Sri Lanka.