Latest update January 23rd, 2025 7:40 AM
The Avyanna Foundation… a new start up non-profit on a mission to tackle period poverty
Young Entrepreneur On The Move…
By Rehanna Ramsay
Kaieteur News – Period poverty is described as a lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, waste management, or a combination of these. In many parts of Guyana, particularly the rural areas, this problem still exists among women and girls.
The Avyanna Foundation conducted a craft workshop with girls at the Hauraruni Girls Home, Soesdyke-Linden Highway earlier this month.
In rural Guyana, many girls who are affected by period poverty often end up dropping out of school way too soon and find themselves in a position of being too embarrassed to discuss the problem and ask for help. As such, a group of young and ambitious University of Guyana (UG) students have joined forces to help end period poverty in Guyana. Today we shine the spotlight on the work of these entrepreneurial-minded students. Founder of the group, Arieanna Madray, told Kaieteur News that the efforts of her non-profit – The Avyanna Foundation – were spawn from the findings of a research conducted during her final year at UG. She explained, “I was doing a project for my social entrepreneurship course with Dr. Kieven Pierre, where we had to choose a social problem and create a for profit business that helps to solve this issue. For the business I chose a company that sells 100 percent organic period pads that decompose within 12 months. Since most pads take up to 800-900 years to decompose.” The group’s founder noted however, that it was while doing research that she discovered that “an alarming amount of girls in [rural Guyana] are not fortunate to get pads and along with this, many do not have access to education on their menstrual cycle.” According to her, the research was done through a questionnaire and interviews with at least 100 females. “I sent questionnaires to a village called Rockstone [in Region 10] where I found that girls used socks, tissues, etc. This was just heartbreaking and I couldn’t get it out of my mind,” she stated.
A closer look at one of the pieces made by the girls of the Hauraruni Girls Home during The Avyanna Foundation workshop.
Added to the lack of information and resources, Madray found that an alarming number of individuals are also uncomfortable talking about their periods, owing to the stigma attached to it. “So, we want to end the stigma around talking about our periods and provide girls with this education,” she added. Prior to starting the non-profit, Madray said that she spoke to her mentor and lobbied the support of friends, family and like-minded individuals. “…I went to talk to one of my mentor, Miss Donna Lam, Founder of the Rosewood Foundation…she encouraged me to get started with the project. I told her how I couldn’t stop thinking about these girls and I wanted to help…We sat there and she told me what I needed in order to get started.” Now, the group has at least 10 members and has already embarked on its first workshop. She explained that “At the workshop we talked to the girls because we want to empower and help them to learn a skill or something entrepreneurial.” For the most recent activity held earlier this month, Madray along with her coordinator, Beaunce Atkinson, organised a workshop in honour of International Women’s Day for the Hauraruni Girls Home on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. “We did a jewellery workshop because most of the girls were young. The girls were taught on the menstrual cycle and participated in an arts and craft workshop where they made bracelets and necklaces. Beaunce and I coordinated everything. I went to her with my idea and she has been helping me with everything and anything I need. Our next step is to do fundraisers so we are sending our letter for sponsorship.” At present, Madray said that the Avyanna Foundation is planning to do at least 14 more events. She explained that “We will definitely end up doing more if funds allow. But an average would be 15 since we are a start up.” However anyone can message our Facebook page, The Avyanna Foundation, anytime if they ever need sanitary pads or anything. All girls are welcome but my focus is the rural areas because some of the girls there are not fortunate to attend school or they have to drop out because of period poverty.” Madray reiterated that her goal is to provide young girls with the education they need on the menstrual cycle, along with hygiene products. “My team and I will be incorporating entrepreneurial workshops and skill learning for these girls to become a little more independent,” she added. By doing these workshops, Madray is hoping to help empower the girls affected by period poverty learn a trade or at least, find their passion.
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