2026 Teens Dream- Teens with Technology Take Down Period Poverty

Hi, my name is Caitlyn Power, I am a Junior at Peak to Peak High School in Colorado, and I will be addressing SDGs 5, Gender Equality, 4 Quality Education, and 3 Good Health and Wellbeing with my plan to eradicate period poverty in my community.

Now let’s talk about the problem. According to Justice Necessary, 46% of Coloradans, nearly half, report inability to access period products. And this affects ⅓ of Coloradan’s ability to focus during work, or get jobs. In my school, we have very inconsistent access to period products. Often there are no menstrual products available, forcing students to miss class time in search of a pad, or use inadequate materials to prevent bleeding through. This hinders my and other girl’s access to education as every second of class we miss sets us behind, which is why we need a solution.

That is why my teen dream is to make an app that tracks which bathrooms need period products that is easily accessible with a QR code. Then, the Women’s Empowerment Club at my school and I would go and restock these period products. And it doesn’t need to stop in schools. My hope is that this website’s popularity will gain sponsorships as local businesses advertise on it, and with this help we can start providing public amenities with period products, ensuring my community’s homeless population have the necessary products for their menstrual hygiene! There is only one problem. 

I don’t know how to code. 

But with the use of ethical and sustainable AI app builders like app base 44, I can make this dream a reality. Not only that, but I can also teach other students how to responsibly and ethically use AI, thus defining the future of AI use. With Global CoLab funding, I could effectively do a trial run in my school and have the finances to expand this project. With your help, I could fulfill my dream of using the technology available to me to create a long lasting that eradicates period poverty for years to come. Thank you.