Our Story

It started with two kids who refused to stay silent.

Suchibala was born when two children learned about the shame and neglect surrounding menstruation in underserved communities — and decided to do something about it.

Our Story

Suchibala was not born in a boardroom.

It was not born from a grant or a strategic plan. It began with a simple conversation.

As we reflected on the menstrual education and support we had received growing up, we began talking with a few girls in underserved communities. What we heard surprised us.

A gap we could not ignore.

We realized that there was a tremendous gap — not just in access to menstrual products, but in knowledge, understanding, and the freedom to talk openly about menstruation.

For many girls, menstruation is surrounded by silence and taboo. When something is rarely discussed, it can become something to fear. Some girls grow up believing that their periods are a sickness — something uncomfortable or shameful that should not be talked about. During those days, they may feel isolated, restricted, or even like an outcast.

And then there is the very real challenge of access.

In some communities, sanitary products are scarce, expensive, or simply unaffordable. Girls may rely on old rags, reusable cloth, and, in some instances, even paper because they have no better option.

To us, this was unacceptable.

Menstruation is a normal part of growing up. It should never be a source of shame, fear, or exclusion. Every girl deserves accurate information, dignity, and access to safe menstrual products.

The starfish on the beach.

We were reminded of the story of the starfish on the beach. One person cannot save every starfish, but that does not mean we should stop helping the one within our reach.

That is the spirit behind Suchibala.

We may not be able to reach every girl at once. But if we can help one girl understand her body, replace fear with knowledge, give her access to safe menstrual products, and help her feel confident rather than ashamed — that is a difference worth making.

And then we can reach one more.

One girl at a time. One conversation at a time. One cycle of change at a time.

That is how Suchibala began.

What we stand for

Our values

Dignity first

Every girl and woman we serve is treated with full dignity. Menstruation is normal, natural, and nothing to be ashamed of.

Community-led

We work alongside local women, teachers, and community leaders — because lasting change comes from within.

Radical transparency

We publish our financials, our reach, and our impact honestly. Trust is built through openness.

Long-term commitment

We don't run one workshop and leave. We build ongoing relationships with communities because awareness takes time.

The people behind the mission

Our Team- Torch Bearers

Apoorva Banda

Co-Founder

Where It All Began At just 12 years old, Apoorva began questioning something that many people simply accepted—the taboos and silence surrounding menstrual cycles. One day, while going through her period, Apoorva experienced something that many girls may take for granted—a family that noticed, cared, and stood beside her. There was no need for her to hide how she felt or quietly deal with it on her own. Her family made sure she was comfortable, reassured her when she needed it, and made sure she had everything she needed. Their love and support meant that, even during those days, she could feel safe, cared for, and free to simply be herself and continue with her life., helped her feel safe and cared for, and made sure she had everything she needed. Because of their support, she could continue her everyday life without having to about the challenges that menstruation can bring. But that experience made her stop and think. She turned to her father with a question that surprised him: “I have all of you to help me through this. You make me feel safe and secure, and you make sure I have everything I need so I can live my normal life. But what about the hundreds and thousands of girls who are not this fortunate?” It was a simple question. But it became the beginning of something much bigger. Apoorva began to understand that for many girls, the challenges of menstruation extend far beyond the physical experience. A lack of accurate information, social taboos, embarrassment, and limited access to safe menstrual products can make what should be a normal part of growing up feel isolating and difficult. She could not accept that her own experience of being supported should be a privilege. She wanted every girl to have the opportunity to feel the same sense of safety, dignity, and confidence that she had experienced. That was the inception of Suchibala. At 12, Apoorva decided that she wanted to make a difference—not by simply talking about the problem, but by taking action. The first steps were clear: provide girls with safe menstrual hygiene products and, equally importantly, provide them with knowledge and education. Because a pad can address an immediate need, but knowledge can change a girl’s understanding of her own body, her confidence, and the way she navigates the world around her. What began with one young girl asking her father a difficult question has grown into a vision to reach girls who may not have the same support system, resources, or opportunity. Suchibala began with one question: “What about the girls who are not this fortunate?” Our answer is simple: We want to reach them.

Siddharth Banda

Co-Founder

A Young Voice for a Community-Wide Change At just **15 years old, Siddharth stood alongside his sister and took on the challenge of turning an idea into action. Together, they developed, designed, and operationalized Suchibala with a simple but powerful belief: every girl deserves to understand her body, manage her periods with dignity, and never feel ashamed of something that is a natural part of growing up. But Siddharth’s vision went beyond providing menstrual products or educating girls about their periods. Through his conversations and experiences, he recognized something fundamental: menstrual health is not only a girls’ issue. It is a community issue. A girl may experience menstruation, but the environment around her shapes how she experiences it. A father who understands can become a source of support. A mother who has accurate information can guide her daughter without passing on fear or stigma. A brother who understands can replace embarrassment with empathy. A teacher who is informed can create a safer and more supportive school environment. And a community that is willing to talk openly can help ensure that menstruation is treated as a normal part of life—not as something to hide. This is why Siddharth believes that menstrual education must reach beyond the girls who experience menstruation. It must include boys and men. It must include parents and families. It must include teachers and schools. And ultimately, it must include the entire community. Because providing a sanitary product may address an immediate need, but knowledge can change how a girl sees herself—and how the people around her see and support her. Siddharth’s journey with Suchibala is also a reminder that meaningful change does not always begin with age, position, or resources. Sometimes it begins with a young person who notices something that does not feel right and asks, “Why does it have to be this way?” At 15, Siddharth chose not to simply ask that question. He chose to do something about it. Suchibala is his effort, alongside his sister and a growing community of supporters, to turn that question into action—one conversation, one girl, one family, and one community at a time. And perhaps most importantly, it is a belief that lasting change will come not from making menstruation a conversation for girls alone, but from creating a generation where everyone understands it, everyone respects it, and no one is made to feel ashamed of it.

Be part of the change.

Every donor, volunteer, and advocate who joins us helps a girl stay in school, stay healthy, and hold her head high.

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