Did you know that 1 in 4 women struggle to afford period products? Period poverty isn’t just about affordability, but also about the lack of knowledge about menstrual hygiene. I flew back to Nigeria sometime in March 2020, and had only planned on staying a week. But due to the coronavirus, my short, one-week trip turned into a year-long stay.

During my stay, I read a newspaper article about period poverty, and how large of an issue it is in Nigeria. The article spoke about how some women and girls in underprivileged communities use palm tree leaves as a substitute for period pads to hold their blood. This made me burdened with sadness and re-ignited my passion to help solve the issue of period poverty.

I immediately went into different communities to speak to women and girls in order to get a better understanding on the issue of period poverty in Nigeria. Thereafter, I volunteered for a charitable foundation that worked with women and girls to provide them with menstrual products.

However, not long after, I took the initiative to start my own: Flo Haven. Flo Haven is a play on the word “LOVE”. We believe in spreading love to communities through the provision of eco-friendly menstrual products as well as menstrual health education. We also believe in having a sustainable impact on these communities.