Period poverty is a global issue affecting women and girls who don’t have access to safe, hygienic sanitary products, and/or who are unable to manage their periods with dignity. It is also an issue that impacts the global North.

In this week’s episode, we speak with Sherri Smith, President, Soroptimist International of Central Alberta on their upcoming initiative Period Promise which seeks to gain commitment from schools, workplaces and various levels of government to provide free menstrual hygiene products in their facilities.

Menstrual health a public health, gender equality and human rights issue, according to the United Nations. Promoting menstrual equity and addressing period poverty is key to supporting women and young girls and necessary in achieving many of the sustainable development goals. We discuss this issue further with our guest Leisa Hertz founder of Women’s Global Health Innovations a social enterprise that was developed to address the lack of sustainable, accessible products available to those experiencing period poverty in the most vulnerable communities and expand menstrual health education in collaboration with health advocates and educators.

Menstrual health a public health, gender equality and human rights issue, according to the United Nations. Promoting menstrual equity and addressing period poverty is key to supporting women and young girls and necessary in achieving many of the sustainable development goals.

We discuss this issue further with our guest Leisa Hertz founder of Women’s Global Health Innovations a social enterprise that was developed to address the lack of sustainable, accessible products available to those experiencing period poverty in the most vulnerable communities and expand menstrual health education in collaboration with health advocates and educators.

As the challenges facing the global community become more complex and interconnected, global partnerships between public and non-state actors have gained momentum as an essential element of governance across scales and levels. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships as a key means of implementation of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  To explore this topic further we are joined by Dr. Meghna Ramaswamy Ph.D. Director of the International Office, University of Saskatchewan.

Learn more about the International Office, University of Saskatchewan.

SDG 4 Quality Education aims to achieve inclusive and equitable education, and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Besides equipping people with the necessary skills, inclusive and equitable quality education for all can also act as a pathway to peace and security. In this week’s episode, we speak to Fakhira Najib, Chief Executive Officer of the POWER99 Foundation whose mission is to transform the education system, alleviate poverty, and help create a society that values diversity and human rights. Learn more about how they harness the reach of radio to actualize their mission.

Learn more about the Power99 Foundation.

Technology can deepen global inequality. It also has the potential to mitigate it. In today’s episode, we speak to Aída Chávez Zapata & Diana Izquierdo about the impact of Hola Code, a start-up that uses technology-focused education and opportunities as a tool of reintegration. Hola Code offers a coding bootcamp for migrants, newly deported, and immigrants in Mexico covering education, employment, and exposure to tech pioneers. We speak with them about alternative education in technology as a pathway to economic growth, universality in technology in allowing the adoption internationally, and how their work benefits decent work and economic growth for all.

Learn more about Hola Code at holacode.com

The gender gap in trades is real and the industry can benefit from more women in the field as it would provide a key role in the adjustment of labor supply to meet market demands. On this week’s episode, we discuss SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities with Nour Hamayel, a gender and inclusion officer at The Lutheran World Federation who is leading the Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) – a program to improve education, training, and employment for Palestinian women in non-traditional fields.

Learn more about the project:

Around the World in SDGs, a podcast series by the Inter Council Network launches this Thursday, February 11, 2021. The podcast series explores the sustainable development goals through the stories of those on the ground researching, collaborating, and creating solutions. Stories and analysis from content and context experts will inspire and inform listeners. You will hear from nonprofits, civil societies, academics, and community leaders.