Positive Periods Enable Education
Girls all around the world are missing a quarter of their school days because of a natural bodily function called menstruation or periods.
It’s often a taboo subject, with shame and stigma attached, and many have no method of managing it. Without access to education and safe period products women are forced to use unhygienic methods that can cause infection.
Many women and girls cannot afford to buy period products, and even when these are given for free, in some parts of the world, there is often no good way to dispose of the products after use.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The Steve Sinnott Foundation works with people to build local solutions that respect their culture and desires and that are owned and managed by them so that they will work long term.
Our positive periods program is sustainable. Women learn to make their own sanitary pads with locally sourced and affordable materials, alongside investing in health education and skills enables women to manage their periods with dignity and pride.
Our solution has no waste products, it is long lasting, and is eco-friendly. Reusable pads done the right way, are a tried and tested method respecting the differences in each country.
We enable people rather than creating dependence on costly products that clog up the environment. Women teach other women, men teach their sisters, we all teach each other, we are starting a movement, and we are asking you to join it.
There are 10 benefits to our Positive Periods Program:
1. MISSING SCHOOL - Girls will no longer miss a quarter of their school days. This will have a massive impact on their education and thus on their future prospects.
2. SHAME - It will no longer be a taboo subject, with shame and stigma attached. This will allow girls and women to have dignity and pride in their bodies.
3. HEALTH - Hygiene will be improved and infection can be avoided. This will improve women’s health and longevity.
4. ECO-FRIENDLY – They are made of recycled materials, they are re-usable, there is no waste (unlike the disposable sanitary pads that clog up the environment and cause pollution)
5. SUSTAINABLE – The program is based on education, it’s designed to be spread and the knowledge shared so that there is a wave of change.
6. COST - These pads are low cost, and can be made from materials women already have. They can also make pads to sell to others, thus creating an income from them.
7. LOCAL – Each program respects the locale that it is delivered, taking into account the local culture, local materials, local concerns and is delivered by local people. This means that it’s owned by the community.
8. ADAPTABLE - It’s not a one size fits all programme, there are different templates to use, different body shapes to respect, different spaces to teach it in, different equipment to use, and different words to describe a period.
9. COMFORTABLE – The pads have to be comfortable so that women can get on with their day. They have to work with the clothes different women wear and keep them looking good.
10. FUN – Periods don’t have to be boring, even the pads can be made to look nice, and making them together is a fun crafting session for women to talk and laugh together about being women (and often we include men too).
Our vision for Positive Periods is this:
Now girls are able to go to school. Women are talking to each other. Periods are not a taboo, they are a natural and necessary function. Women and men are sharing this program and teaching others.
With your help this programme can be sown in over 10 different countries, it will grow and spread and it will enable girls to go back to school, and women to take control of their lives.
This is Development at its best, women and men working in solidarity! How does it make you feel knowing that you are part of a new, sustainable movement, making periods positive and women free?
We need you to make this happen. So we are asking you to Donate NOW.
Go with the flow.
The Steve Sinnott Foundation • December 1, 2020
The 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Competition Online Awards Ceremony took place on 30 September 2026 and was attended by over 70 participants, including young people, teachers, the Competition Judges and UNESCO Commission representatives. The ethos of the Competition was ‘ to recognise, value and celebrate the efforts of all young people who entered the Competition, and their contribution towards helping UNESCO realise many of its key objectives, especially with regard to sustainability and climate challenges’. 2026 is the second year that UNESCO UK has undertaken the Seeds of Hope for a Better Future Competition. The Competition featured 50 projects, involving 13 countries across six continents, and representing 67 educational institutions from all sectors (early years, primary, secondary and tertiary). Significantly, this was more than double the participation in the 2025 Competition, with thousands of young people taking part in, or being impacted . Eight winners from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Slovenia received Gold Certificates and shared the £5000 prize pot. Seven Kenyan Teacher Training College projects were also collectively recognised for projects that strongly support the sustainability and climate change objectives of UNESCO through ongoing work of local, regional, national and international importance, and received the 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Legacy Award .
A moment to be proud of and a reminder of why young people’s voices matter. Today, artwork created by students from UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside artwork from young people in other countries. What an amazing opportunity for our students to have their creativity, ideas and hopes represented on an international stage. For me, this is what UNESCO ASPnet is about: creating opportunities for young people to connect across cultures, express themselves creatively, learn from one another and imagine a better future together. The power of young people’s creativity: their voices being part of an international conversation about education, peace, culture and our shared future. UNESCO’s programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit specifically focused on education, artistic creation, AI, information integrity and peace. The work was part of a mural that brings together 80 original creations marking UNESCO’s 80th anniversary, produced as part of the "International Youth for Peace" competition organized by France TV and UNESCO.
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide. https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.
