They Came to Learn. They Left as Leaders.
How 18 High School Girls Co-Created Solutions to End Period Poverty
When the girls of United Charter High School in Brooklyn, New York walked into the room, they came as students. When they left, they were something more—collaborators, advocates, and leaders with a plan.
On May 14, 2025, One Million Girls hosted Power Movements, a SpeakHER Power leadership development experience centered on one of the most pressing issues affecting girls and women globally: period poverty. In honor of National Menstrual Health Awareness Month, 18 high school girls—from 9th to 12th grade—came together to build a real business solution to a real-world problem, and pitch it in front of their peers and a room full of professionals.
The Room Was Ready
Women professionals across various industries volunteered their time and expertise to serve as mentors, guiding each team through the process of identifying the problem, building a solution, and presenting their ideas with confidence. The energy in the room was immediate. These weren't passive participants—they were engaged, curious, and ready to work.
What made the day even more special? Several of the girls had participated in the very first SpeakHER Power experience, also held at United Charter. They didn't just come back—they showed up ready to go deeper.
The Issue They Tackled
Period poverty is a global issue. According to UNFPA and UN Women, more than 500 million girls and women around the world lack access to adequate menstrual health resources—affecting their ability to attend school, participate in public life, and live with dignity. Here in New York City, girls in low-income communities face these same barriers every day.
When one student learned just how expensive period products have become, she looked up from her work and said: "When did pads become $10?!"
That moment of awareness—of connecting a global issue to a personal one—is exactly what Power Movements is designed to create.
They Built. They Pitched. They Led.
Divided into teams and supported by their mentors, the girls brainstormed and co-created actionable solutions to address period poverty in their communities. Then they did something that takes courage at any age: they stood up and pitched their ideas to a panel of experts and professionals.
The room was electric.
One student, reflecting on the experience afterward, said it best: "I'm inspired by this. I feel like I should apply what I learned to my career."
That's the SpeakHER Power promise—not just an event, but an experience that stays with you.
Why This Matters
For some of these young women, this was the first time they had ever been given the tools, the space, and the support to create something the way a business leader would. They didn't just learn about period poverty—they responded to it. With strategy, with creativity, and with their voices.
And that is exactly the point.
Loved what you read? Share this post and help us spread the word about the work being done to end period poverty — one girl, one team, one idea at a time.
