Addressing period poverty and promoting self-sufficiency

The podcast highlights the issue of period poverty, which particularly affects girls and women in marginalized communities who struggle to access menstrual products. The current reliance on donations and single-use pads is not a long-term solution. Introducing reusable pads would be ideal, but they are currently expensive, making them challenging to sustainably donate. The podcast suggests empowering girls and women with skills to make their own pads using locally available resources. Manu Prakash's team's research on using the agave sicilla plant as an absorbent material shows promise, reducing environmental impact and creating opportunities for local production and job creation. This solution would enable girls and women to attend school regularly without the burden of inadequate menstrual supplies and reduce reliance on external assistance.