Ruby Cup’s mission goes beyond providing menstrual cups: it’s about empowering people around the world with access to safe and sustainable menstrual health solutions One way we do this is through our Buy One, Give One model, where for every Ruby Cup purchased, one is donated to someone without access to safe menstrual care. To do that, we need reliable partners who help us spread our impact around the world - now in over 13 countries.
This partnership isn’t just about distributing cups—it’s about creating long-term, sustainable change. With the Golden Girls Foundation, we’ve seen firsthand how access to menstrual care can unlock opportunity. By combining education, mentorship, and menstrual health support, they’re helping girls stay in school, build confidence, and shape brighter futures. Together, we’re not only addressing period poverty—we’re challenging the systems that hold girls back.
Over the years, we’ve partnered with incredible organisations making real change on the ground—and one of those is the Golden Girls Foundation, based in rural Kenya. With them, we went beyond our Buy One Give One program, and established our 2% for education project. Behind every Ruby Cup is a girl who's now able to stay in school, a mother who's found support, and a community that's growing stronger. Keep reading to see the story you're a part of.
Who Are the Golden Girls?
Golden Girls Foundation is a women-led organisation founded in 2010 in Kenya. It started when local women noticed that girls were falling behind in school. After looking closer, they uncovered the root causes: poverty, patriarchal norms, and a lack of access to basic necessities—especially menstrual products.
Determined to make a change, Golden Girls focused their efforts on:
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Mentoring and supporting girls through education
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Empowering women within the community
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Creating inclusive, girl-friendly school environments
What began as a small initiative has since evolved into a powerful force for gender equality and education.
How Ruby Cup Donations Are Making a Difference
One of the most persistent challenges girls in rural Kenya face is managing their periods with dignity, safety, and confidence. Before Golden Girls Foundation partnered with Ruby Cup, many girls had limited—and often unsafe—options to manage their menstrual cycles. Some stayed home from school entirely during their periods, while others resorted to using old rags, cotton wool, or, in some cases, nothing at all.
“Many girls stayed home during their periods, sometimes visiting relatives. This increased their risk of early pregnancy or marriage.”
Others relied on boyfriends or male family members to purchase disposable pads, putting them in vulnerable positions. While there were occasional donations of disposable pads from NGOs or government programs, they were inconsistent. On top of that, many girls didn’t even have underwear to keep the pads in place. Attempts to make reusable pads also presented challenges: washing and drying them hygienically wasn’t always possible, and the stigma around menstruation made girls hesitant to hang them out to dry in public.
That’s where Ruby Cup came in.
“The Ruby Cup has been a game changer,” says the Golden Girls team. “Not just for the girls using it, but for the entire community.”
Because Ruby Cups are reusable for up to 10 years, they provide a sustainable, long-term solution that is both cost-effective and empowering. Girls no longer have to rely on others to manage their periods or worry about missing school every month.
“We’ve seen a real shift,” Golden Girls shares. “Girls are attending school more consistently, especially in high school. Teachers and community members frequently report positive changes.”
Menstrual health has also become less of a taboo subject. Open discussions are happening in classrooms and homes, creating more supportive, informed environments for girls to grow up in.
A New Confidence In and Outside the Classroom
“While we may not have detailed statistics, the impact is visible in everyday life and that means more.”
Based on the stories and observations of teachers, students, and parents, the results are clear: girls are no longer isolated during their periods. They show up to class consistently, participate actively, and carry themselves with a newfound confidence.
“Girls are now more likely to attend school consistently and participate more confidently. They no longer have to miss class or isolate themselves during their periods. This increased freedom and comfort has a direct effect on their academic and emotional well-being.”
With improved menstrual health comes improved self-esteem and better academic performance. It’s a ripple effect that reaches beyond the individual, strengthening families, schools, and communities.
The Golden Girls Foundation Learning Centre
In 2015, Golden Girls Foundation took their impact a step further by founding the Golden Foundation Learning Centre—a school and community hub built from the savings of local mentors, during their early partnership with Ruby Cup.
“The centre is built on the principle of Education for Sustainable Development and offers a strong foundation for lifelong success.”
What began as a modest initiative has grown into a thriving school that now serves 200 pupils and employs 20 local staff, many of them women. The centre provides not just quality education, but also creates economic opportunities for families in the village.
A key part of the centre is its daycare program, which gives working mothers a safe and nurturing environment for their children—enabling them to seek employment, attend training programs, or run small businesses.
“The daycare serves as a safe space for working mothers, who can drop off their children and even breastfeed during breaks.”
Flow Freedom, Fearless, and 2% for education
Ongoing support from Ruby Cup has played a vital role in the growth and maintenance of the centre—particularly through the 2% donation program. This means for every purchase of Ruby Cup period underwear, we donate 2% directly to the Golden Foundation Learning Centre. This funding has made it possible to carry out crucial development projects, including:
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Repairing and maintaining classroom floors for safer, more comfortable learning environments
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Installing water tanks and gutters, improving access to clean water for hygiene and sanitation
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Supplying essential learning materials, such as stationery and classroom resources
“Ruby Cup was also instrumental in establishing the first three classrooms after a visit from Amaia and Julie in 2015,” the Golden Girls team shared.
“That 2% feels more like 20% to us—it was a huge turning point.”
Looking Ahead: Bigger Dreams, Bigger Impact
Golden Girls Foundation is not stopping here - in fact, they have ambitious goals for the next five years:
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Expand access to Ruby Cups for more schoolgirls
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Complete their clean drinking water project
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Grow their kindergarten enrollment to 500 children
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Improve infrastructure at their learning centre
Their biggest hope?
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“That the children we support will break the cycle of generational poverty through education.”
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“That no girl will miss school because of her period.”
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“That our community will continue to grow stronger through empowered women and educated children.”
If you have purchased a menstrual cup you have been part of something bigger, if you have purchased a pair of period underwear your donation went towards something bigger.
Looking to shop sustainable period products and make a difference? Shop Ruby Cup shop change.
