How 16-year-old entrepreneur is combatting period poverty with her new social venture

While Gen-Z is known for many unique traits, harnessing the power of creativity and innovation is at the heart of their endeavours. Growing up in a rapidly changing world, they often seek unconventional solutions to age-old problems and are open to embracing new ideas and trends, which naturally makes them the right fit for entrepreneurial adventures — and ventures.

Conceived and developed by 16-year-old entrepreneur, Ahana Kotibhaskar, Saathi is a socially conscious brand focused on menstrual hygiene, dedicated to tackling period poverty globally through reusable period underwear. The inspiration for Saathi struck when Ahana visited India in 2022. During the trip, she witnessed firsthand the detrimental impact of period poverty on the lives of young girls and women, particularly in rural areas.

“Last summer, I visited my ancestral village in India called Birwadi with my family. After spending an hour or two there, I decided to go and interact with some of the girls around my age, and I was shocked to discover that none of them were attending school,” recalls Ahana, who originally hails from Dubai but is currently studying at Wycombe Abbey boarding school in Buckinghamshire, England.

“This was a complete revelation to me because some of these girls were even younger than me, and were being denied the opportunity to learn. I inquired as to why this was happening, and I was even more astounded to learn that it was all due to menstruation, something I consider to be a basic human process,” she adds.

For many low-income and rural women, access to hygienic sanitary products during menstruation is either limited or unaffordable. Moreover, the global Pink Tax, which refers to the phenomenon where products and services marketed to women are priced higher than similar products and services marketed to men, further aggravates the issue, resulting in higher costs for female-oriented products compared to their male counterparts.

“Instead of going to school, and perhaps, being educated about menstruation, these girls are taught that menstruation is a shameful, unnatural process, and that they should live in period huts/rooms for the duration of their monthly cycles. The only other option is to wear dry rags while menstruating, which are often dirty and can lead to infections and diseases that many women don’t have the money to treat,” says Ahana. “That’s when I realised that things needed to change and a donation would not be enough. That’s how the idea of ‘Saathi’ came to life.”

Prioritising meaning and purpose in their work is also of utmost importance for the Gen-Z, says Ahana, adding that people are more likely to be drawn to businesses that align with their values and contribute positively to society. The preference for purpose-driven work often translates into entrepreneurial ventures aimed at creating a positive impact. “I realised that my past experiences of raising funds for causes I believed in were short-term, and mostly one-time in nature and charitable. To make an ongoing impact and to make it sustainable, a small business serves the aim of longevity, being able to give back on a long-term basis, while also creating impact and change in the short run,” says Ahana.

Underlining its commitment to promoting menstrual health and safety sustainably, Saathi donates one period underwear to a girl in need with each purchase. Partnering with the KCS Foundation NGO in Bihar, India, Ahana also seeks to educate girls and women about menstrual hygiene, while handing them Saathi's products.

“In only a matter of a few months after launching, Saathi has sold over 300 period underwear, which means over 300 underwear would be distributed to girls in India,” says Ahana, who recently travelled to India to distribute the Saathi underwear to women in need. However, the aim of this trip was not solely focused on distribution, but also on education, says Ahana. “We hosted educational sessions to destigmatise the social taboo around menstruation, explaining the ‘reality’ of periods to young girls in the village,” she adds. “Saathi is more than just a brand. It's a movement. And I hope it sparks a revolution.”