CycleCare

The specific problem within the Challenge that CycleCare is working to solve is period poverty among young individuals. Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and adequate education surrounding menstruation. It affects millions of young people around the world, including in the communities where CycleCare works.

According to a 2021 report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 500 million people lack access to menstrual hygiene products and adequate sanitation facilities [UNICEF 2021]. This means that one in five menstruating people are unable to manage their periods with dignity. Period poverty is especially prevalent in low-income countries, where up to 71% of menstruating girls may miss school because of their periods [UNICEF 2021].

In the United States, an estimated 16.9 million people who menstruate live in poverty. Two-thirds of these individuals struggle to afford menstrual hygiene products [Thinx 2022]. Period poverty is also a major issue among college students in the United States, with 14.2% reporting that they have experienced period poverty in the past year [Thinx 2022].

There are a number of factors that contribute to period poverty, including:

• Poverty: Menstrual hygiene products can be expensive, especially for people living in poverty.

• Limited access to education and awareness: Many people, especially young people, lack access to education and awareness about menstruation. This can lead to misinformation and stigma, which can make it difficult for people to manage their periods with dignity [UNICEF 2021].

• Social stigma: Menstruation is often stigmatized in many cultures, which can make it difficult for people to talk about their periods and seek help when needed [UNICEF 2021].

CycleCare addresses the problem of period poverty by providing young individuals with access to menstrual hygiene products, education, and support. The solution includes a mobile app that provides users with a product locator, educational content, and a community forum. CycleCare also partners with local businesses, non-governmental organizations, and schools to distribute menstrual hygiene products to young individuals in need.

By providing young individuals with access to menstrual hygiene products, education, and support, CycleCare can help to reduce period poverty and improve the lives of young people around the world.

CycleCare is a holistic solution to combat period poverty among young individuals. It provides access to menstrual hygiene products, education, and support.

What is it?

CycleCare is a mobile app and web platform that provides young people with the resources they need to manage their menstrual health with dignity.

What does it do?

CycleCare provides the following features:

• Product locator: CycleCare uses GPS technology to help users find free or low-cost menstrual hygiene products in their area.

• Educational content: CycleCare provides educational content about menstrual health and hygiene, including topics such as anatomy, physiology, and common menstrual health problems.

• Community forum: CycleCare provides a community forum where users can connect with each other and share their experiences.

CycleCare also partners with local businesses, non-governmental organizations, and schools to distribute menstrual hygiene products to young individuals in need.

How does it work?

To use CycleCare, users can download the mobile app or visit the web platform. They can then create an account and provide their location information. Once logged in, users can access the product locator, educational content, and community forum.

Technology used:

CycleCare uses a variety of technologies, including:

• Mobile app development: CycleCare is developed using native mobile app development frameworks for iOS and Android.

• Web development: CycleCare is developed using a variety of web development frameworks and technologies, including React, Django, and PostgreSQL.

• Cloud computing: CycleCare uses cloud computing services to host its infrastructure and data.

Example of how CycleCare can be used:

A young person who is struggling to afford menstrual hygiene products can use CycleCare to find a location where they can obtain free or low-cost products. They can also use CycleCare to learn more about menstrual health and hygiene, and to connect with other young people who are managing their menstrual health.

Conclusion:

CycleCare is a comprehensive solution that provides young individuals with the resources they need to manage their menstrual health with dignity. It is a valuable tool for combating period poverty and promoting menstrual equity.

CycleCare serves young individuals, aged 15 to 24, who are struggling to manage their menstrual health due to period poverty, lack of access to education & awareness, and social stigma.

Target population:

The target population for CycleCare is young individuals who:

• Live in poverty: Menstrual hygiene products can be expensive, especially for young people living in poverty.

• Lack access to education and awareness: Many young people lack access to education and awareness about menstrual health and hygiene. This can lead to misinformation and stigma, which can make it difficult for young people to manage their periods with dignity.

• Experience social stigma: Menstruation is often stigmatized in many cultures, which can make it difficult for young people to talk about their periods and seek help when needed.

Currently, young people who are struggling to manage their menstrual health are underserved in a number of ways:

• Many young people cannot afford to purchase menstrual hygiene products. This can lead to them using unsanitary alternatives, such as rags or toilet paper, which can put them at risk of infections.

• Many young people do not have access to education and awareness about menstrual health and hygiene. This can lead to them feeling ashamed or embarrassed about their periods, and it can also make it difficult for them to manage their periods with dignity.

• Menstruation is often stigmatized in many cultures, which can make it difficult for young people to talk about their periods and seek help when needed. This can lead to feelings of isolation and shame.

How will CycleCare address their needs?

CycleCare will address the needs of young people who are struggling to manage their menstrual health in the following ways:

• Provide access to menstrual hygiene products: CycleCare will provide young people with access to free or low-cost menstrual hygiene products through its product locator and partnerships with local organizations.

• Provide education and awareness: CycleCare will provide young people with education and awareness about menstrual health and hygiene through its mobile app, web platform, and community forum.

• Reduce social stigma: CycleCare will help to reduce social stigma by providing young people with a safe and supportive space to talk about their periods and connect with other young people who are managing their menstrual health.

Impact on lives:

CycleCare will have a significant impact on the lives of young people who are struggling to manage their menstrual health. It will help them to:

• CycleCare will provide young people with the resources they need to manage their periods with dignity, including access to menstrual hygiene products, education, and support.

• CycleCare will help young people to improve their health and well-being by reducing their risk of infections and other menstrual health problems.

• CycleCare will help young people to increase their confidence and self-esteem by providing them with the knowledge and support they need to manage their menstrual health effectively.

CycleCare is a comprehensive solution that will help them to manage their periods with dignity, improve their health and well-being, and increase their confidence and self-esteem.

The CycleCare team is uniquely positioned to address the challenges faced by young people struggling to manage their menstrual health. Our diverse team, comprising individuals who have experienced period poverty, community leaders, advocates, and public health professionals, brings a comprehensive understanding of the issue. This unique blend of backgrounds equips us to design and deliver solutions that cater to the specific needs of young individuals.

Our team's proximity to the communities we serve is a crucial asset. Many team members reside in the same areas as the young people we aim to assist, fostering strong connections and insights. Additionally, we have built valuable relationships with community-based organizations actively addressing period poverty and menstrual health issues.

Understanding the needs of the population we serve is a top priority for the CycleCare team. We employ various methods, including community engagement through focus groups, surveys, and interviews. Data analysis helps us identify trends and patterns related to period poverty and menstrual health, offering a more comprehensive view of the problem and aiding in tailored solution development.

Our commitment to community involvement is evident in our approach to solution development. We engage the communities in several ways:

1. **Community Advisory Board:** We've established a community advisory board comprising young people, community leaders, and advocates. This board provides essential feedback and ensures our solutions align with community needs.

2. **Pilot Testing:** We pilot test our solutions with a small group of young people, soliciting their feedback to make improvements before a wider launch.

3. **Community Outreach:** We conduct outreach activities to raise awareness of our solutions and encourage young people to utilize them.

The design and implementation of our solutions are meaningfully guided by the communities' input, ideas, and agendas:

1. **Continuous Feedback:** We seek input from community members at every stage of the development process, from initial design to pilot testing and launch plans.

2. **Empowerment:** We empower community members by giving them a voice on our community advisory board and involving them in the development and implementation process.

3. **Accessibility and Affordability:** We are committed to ensuring our solutions are accessible and affordable to all young people, regardless of their income or location.

Our belief is that engaging the communities we serve throughout the development and implementation of our solutions is vital. This approach ensures that our solutions are truly responsive to their needs, guaranteeing a positive impact on their lives. The CycleCare team's dedication to understanding, involving, and empowering the communities it serves is at the heart of its mission to combat period poverty and improve menstrual health for young individuals.

The CycleCare solution is a Prototype because we have built and tested a working version of the solution with a small group of young people.

Here are some of the things we have built and tested so far:

• Mobile app: We have developed a mobile app that provides young people with access to a product locator, educational content, and a community forum. The app is currently being pilot tested with a small group of young people.

• Web platform: We have also developed a web platform that provides the same features as the mobile app.

• Partnerships: We have established partnerships with local businesses, non-governmental organizations, and schools to distribute menstrual hygiene products to young people in need.

We have also conducted a number of research and development activities, including:

• Literature review: We conducted a literature review to identify best practices for addressing period poverty and menstrual health challenges among young people.

• Focus groups: We conducted focus groups with young people to understand their experiences with period poverty and their needs.

• Surveys: We conducted surveys with young people to collect data on their menstrual health and hygiene practices.

The findings from our research and development activities have helped us to design and implement a solution that is responsive to the needs of young people.

In addition to the above, we have also developed a business model and a roadmap for scaling the solution.

We believe that the CycleCare solution is more than just an idea because we have built and tested a working version of the solution with a small group of young people, conducted a number of research and development activities, and developed a business model and a roadmap for scaling the solution.

We are excited to continue developing and testing the CycleCare solution so that we can reach more young people and help them to manage their menstrual health with dignity.