I endured period poverty in rural Zimbabwe. Now I fight against it.

My name is Florence Kayungwa. I am an overcomer of poverty, a university graduate, and a dream chaser—and I am empowering the women of my village in rural Zimbabwe to do the same.

I will never forget the day in high school when I started my period and had no access to sanitary pads. At first, I tried to use old socks and tissues—but it was useless. Because I didn’t have access to menstruation pads, I soiled my school uniform and desk.

As my instructor threw away the ruined items, my male classmates laughed at me, shouting to stay at home when I had my period and that they didn’t want to see the “dirty blood” I had tried so hard to contain. I was devastated, so I listened to the shameful voices and began to stay home while on my period.

My story is not one of isolation. 72% of menstruating schoolgirls in Zimbabwe do not use sanitary pads because they cannot afford them.

Menstruation is an uncomfortable, painful and expensive inconvenience for those living in impoverished areas. Those who do not have access to menstruation products—such as sanitary pads and tampons—are on their own to manage their menstruation cycles.

Women across the world can not manage their period cycle with dignity and ease, and in turn, struggle to meaningfully participate in daily life without support. When a family is struggling to afford food and tuition fees, how can they see feminine hygiene products as a necessity?

It is common for schoolgirls to miss school during their period, to be encouraged to drop out of school altogether, or resort to using unhygienic product substitutes such as rags, newspapers, banana leaves, grass and even dried cattle feces.

Now, I will combat the lies that have misled the young women of my region with the truth: no young woman’s education should be limited—nor should any woman ever feel shame—because of their menstruation cycle.

My mentor is Dr. Tereari Trent, a world-renowned humanitarian from my home village who overcame child marriage, poverty and illiteracy to obtain her Ph.D at the University of Zimbabwe—and eventually be termed as Oprah Winfrey’s “all-time favorite guest.”

Trent taught me that at the core of our heartbreak is a passionate hunger to fight for justice—and when we lean into what breaks our heart, we can achieve our dreams.

Women suffering the same shame I endured breaks my heart. Thus, I have been inspired with a dream: to fight against period poverty and shame in my home community of Hurungwe.

I am running a sanitary pad campaign with the goal of providing 5,000 pads to Hurungwe women in order to end shame and keep young women in school. In the future, I plan to make this a long-term initiative where the basic needs of students will be met with sustainable practices.

Together, my global brothers and sisters, we can end period poverty and shame.