In Colombia, menstrual poverty affects one out of two women in vulnerable communities. The cost of sanitary pads exceeds their daily income by 148%, making it challenging for them to afford adequate menstrual products. Consequently, they resort to using unsuitable alternatives such as toilet paper, rags, and socks, resulting in severe urinary and vaginal infections and reproductive health issues.
We sought to address this pressing issue and partnered with WaterAid Colombia to embark on a transformative journey. Together, we traveled to Tomarrazón, a forgotten territory in La Guajira, Colombia, to provide every woman with a sustainable, affordable, and eco-friendly solution to menstrual poverty. We also conducted menstrual education sessions to dispel the stigma, taboo, and bias surrounding menstruation. We aimed to empower every generation of women to embrace their menstruation with pride and dignity.

To combat menstrual poverty in Tomarrazón, La Guajira, Colombia, we established a sewing studio as a safe space for women. Here, we taught three generations of women to sew their sanitary pads and reimagine them with innovation. We incorporated fabric patterns with a blood-color guide to enable women to compare their menstrual flow and detect menstrual-related health conditions. These pads are self-made, reusable, and designed for lasting access, guaranteeing a sustainable and affordable solution for menstrual poverty.

Our experience in Tomarrazón inspired us to create art and music pieces that we showcased in the capital city, Bogotá. Hundreds of people learned about our project and engaged in a conversation about menstruation, a topic rarely discussed before. Our aim was to familiarize people with the different stages of menstruation, including menarche, menstruation, and menopause, and educate them to break the taboo surrounding menstruation.

· 100% of Tomarrazón's women got their menstrual rights guaranteed.
· Tomarrazon's women now have access to hygiene tools for four years and a lasting solution to menstrual poverty.
· Tomarrazón is now the first territory in Colombia to ensure 100% menstrual rights for women.
· We transform heritage into an educational way to embrace the Menstrual Cycle with pride.
· The sewing studio is now replicable throughout Colombia.

Tomarrazón, La Guajira, is a Colombian Territory where menstrual poverty impacts different aspects of the lives of its women since they never had contact with sanitary pads, due to the economic context of this territory does not allow them to access the necessary tools for dignified menstruation, cause sanitary pad expenses surpass their daily income by 148%; which leads them to use elements that are not suitable for their menstruation, causing them urinary and vaginal infections and also diseases in their reproductive and sexual health.