For hundreds of girls across Jamaica, the start of their menstrual cycle does not simply signal a natural stage of growing up; it marks the beginning of a monthly struggle defined by uncertainty, embarrassment, and, too often, absence from school.

In communities where basic sanitary supplies are not guaranteed, period poverty is quietly disrupting education and dignity, one missed day at a time.

At St Patrick’s Primary School, the student population reflects a broader social reality facing many communities across Jamaica. Of roughly 755 pupils, about 50 per cent are girls (375), and the needs are significant, especially among the 115 girls in grades five and six, who make up some 15 per cent of the student body and nearly a third of all girls, and are entering early adolescence.