‘What is our Why?’ From Rukshara Premkumar, founder and executive officer:

   Growing up in a suburban town, it is easy to become disconnected from the larger issues affecting the world around us. Sometimes, the biggest issues are closer than one can believe, but we never fully recognize them.

   I had experienced menstrual stigma firsthand, but my first encounter with period poverty was during a visit to India. I often wandered near the slums behind my apartment complex, unaware of the challenges faced by the people living there. Years later, a friend told me about the women in that community and the restrictions they faced. They could hang washed clothes outside to dry in the sun, but menstrual cloths were considered too taboo to be seen. Instead, women had to dry them indoors, in dark, poorly ventilated spaces. My first thought was the risk of infection. I couldn't understand how something as natural as menstruation could force women into conditions that put their health at risk.

But that was not all, there was also the lack of clean water, the difficulty of disposing of menstrual waste, and the challenges of using communal toilets. Some women had to coordinate trips to the restroom before others woke up or after everyone had gone to sleep, simply to have a moment of privacy.

   Later, I encountered period poverty in my own county, and eventually, at my own school. I realized this was not an issue confined to one place or community. It was happening everywhere, whether I saw it or not.

   That is why this work matters to not only me, but to everyone involved in the Dot Project. We want to bring attention to an issue that too often goes unnoticed and help ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to manage their periods safely and with dignity. No one should have to compromise their health, education, or well-being because of the natural presence of a period.