Saathi: The Dubai-Based 18-Year-Old Entrepreneur Taking On Period Poverty With Her Underwear Brand
Each year, 450 million sanitary pads get dumped into landfills in the UAE, while surveys report that menstrual education and support are severely lacking across the MENA region. For Ahana Kotibhaskar, it was time to act
“Gandhi once said, ‘be the change you wish to see in the world.’ This applies regardless of age. Target the issue you want to solve and channel your entire passion and determination into making the change you want to see unfold. It’s that simple.”
This is the mission statement that drives Dubai-based 18-year-old Ahana Kotibhaskar, who is on a personal quest to end period poverty. After visiting her ancestral village – Birwadi, India – in 2022, Ahana first came across the issue of period poverty shortly after entering her teens. “When I went there aged 15, I saw that lots of girls my age didn’t go to school, including girls as young as 9.” Shocked and curious in equal measure, Ahana began her research. “In rural parts of India, girls were spending the duration of their periods in period huts – rooms where they were forced to sit and endure their cycle, unsupported.” She discovered that some girls avoided going to school altogether, as they were compelled to retreat each month. “Since these communities are located in low income areas, those who do venture out during this time, resort to used rags and cloths, which lead to infections. Essentially it’s this never ending cycle, also known as period poverty,” she explains.
Tackling the issue
“My immediate thought was to donate a bunch of sanitary pads but I then realised that it wasn’t going to give these girls the access they need in the long term.” She thought, “it needs to be something reusable.” That is when Ahana decided to found Saathi – a sustainable brand that sells reusable menstrual underwear with a built-in pad. Ranging from size small to extra-large and priced between Dhs100-120 each, the brand aims to be as inclusive as possible, with the recently introduced option of customisation for regular and heavy flow. Made from 95% bamboo fibre, the brand aims to be as eco-conscious as possible, and with every purchase made, one pair of underwear is automatically donated to charitable organisations fighting period poverty. In August 2023, Ahana flew to India where she visited the Samastipur district in Bihar and donated 1500 units of underwear, and she proudly partners with the Krishna Chandra Shakti Foundation (KCS). While in Bihar, Ahana also educated the girls about the menstrual cycle as their “mindsets were based around the fact that periods are unnatural, unhygienic and embarrassing.”
“When I made that first donation, I shared the Saathi Instagram handle with all of the girls. Within no time I had several messages from them, seeking advice and knowledge about menstruation. Sometimes it was just a casual conversation as they wanted someone to talk to.” This compassion sparked the name of Ahana’s brand – Saathi – which means friend in Hindi. “I wanted to be that friend, the one who did not shame them for being a woman and the one who empowered them.”
In February 2024, Ahana connected with the director of Youngsters Appeal – Nantume Masturah – who is on a mission to eradicate period poverty in Uganda. Through the DHL Group, she sent menstrual underwear to five schools in Uganda, helping 459 girls who lacked access to menstrual products. The brand was gaining pace, allowing Ahana to donate a further Dhs11,000 worth of menstrual underwear to girls in Kenya.
Period poverty in the UAE and beyond
Every year, around 500 million women lack access to menstrual products. Approximately 450 million pads get dumped into landfills in the UAE, and 23 million girls in India drop out of school due to getting their period. In the MENA region alone, out of 2,800 people, 20% of girls lack information on menstruation and 30% of girls are missing school during their period (UNICEF MENA, 2023). A recent survey conducted within the UAE demonstrated that out of 390 participants, 73.6% of female university students face menstrual disturbances, yet only 28.5% seek help, due to their lack of awareness and resources (Cureus, 2025). “Period poverty isn’t just the lack of access to menstrual products, it’s the lack of access to menstrual education too,” says Ahana.
Recognition
In 2024 Ahana took part in the Diamond Challenge where she placed third amongst 940 teams. Awarded $4250, she invested the funds into Saathi to expand its international reach. Ahana then went on to receive the Youth Empowerment and Service award 2023 by KCS foundation and Consulate General of India at the G20 2023 India awards event in Dubai. She was also awarded The 2024 Diana Award Roll of Honour and continues to excel today – recently nominated as a finalist for the 2025 Rising Star of The Year Award, which will be held on October 14, 2025 in the UK.
The next chapter
Ahana intends to grow Saathi’s global reach by partnering up with other small businesses and entrepreneurs who are also on the road to eliminating period poverty. “I would like to work towards a better world with reduced gender inequality and less of a stigma surrounding menstruation,” she enthuses. When she founded Saathi, Ahana knew she wanted to create a business with longevity, and she intends to drive the business onwards as she embarks on her university career in the U.S. “Having seen the growth of Saathi throughout my education whilst completing higher exams and applying to college, I don’t see why it can’t reach greater heights.” On her to-do list? Launching a menstrual swimwear line.
“At the start of my journey, a lot of people didn’t take me very seriously. I guess a 15 year old girl with a worldwide dream didn’t sound very plausible to some. Many claim in passing that they want to start something but don’t follow through, hence the challenges to becoming a business owner at such a young age.” A hurdle that Ahana took in her stride. “Pushing through and persevering made it all immeasurably worth it today. Being able to be a support system to hundreds and thousands of women is everything I imagined Saathi to stand for. And it’s something I never want to stop doing.”
For more information visit saathi.ae
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