Fathima Begum, a 21-year-old from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, is leading a grassroots movement to break menstrual taboos and promote hygiene in rural communities. Growing up in a culture where menstruation was treated with silence and stigma, she witnessed firsthand how young girls missed school and lacked access to basic hygiene products. In response, she launched the “Period Positive Villages” campaign, which focuses on menstrual health education and awareness in remote areas. Through workshops, open discussions, and partnerships with NGOs, Fathima has reached over 5,000 girls in more than 20 villages and facilitated the distribution of over 20,000 sanitary kits, many of them eco-friendly and reusable. Recognized by UNICEF India as a Youth Champion for Health & Gender Equality, Fathima’s mission goes beyond hygiene-it’s about restoring dignity, confidence, and opportunity to girls.