Calling You Can't Deny: Changing Girls' Futures in Kenya
Send us Fan Mail How is ZanaAfrica transforming menstrual health, girls’ education, reproductive health, and gender equality in Kenya? In this episode of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast, host Jodi Hope Grinwald speaks with Megan Mukuria—founder of ZanaAfrica , Ashoka Fellow, Harvard University graduate, and award-winning social entrepreneur. Megan grew up in Connecticut and attended Harvard University. But after working with girls in Kenya, she recognized a truth that changed her life: poverty is a lack of opportunity—not a lack of talent. In 2001, she purchased a one-way ticket to Kenya and followed a calling she could no longer deny. Megan later founded ZanaAfrica after witnessing how period poverty, limited access to sanitary pads, and a lack of trusted reproductive health education affected girls’ health, safety, dignity, and education. Today, ZanaAfrica provides menstrual products to more than 100,000 users and works with 250 teachers and 50,000 students—with the goal of helping bring its health curriculum to 13 million students across Kenya. In this conversation, Megan shares: How her Connecticut upbringing and Harvard education influenced her journey Why she left the United States for Kenya How ZanaAfrica is advancing menstrual health and girls’ education What she learned after six years without funding Why menstrual products and health education must work together How courage, purpose, and persistence can create systems change Why everyone—not only founders—can contribute to social impact If you are interested in Megan Mukuria, ZanaAfrica, Harvard alumni creating social change, menstrual health in Kenya, period poverty, girls’ education, gender equality, women’s health, nonprofit leadership, or social entrepreneurship, this episode is for you. Watch and listen: YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Search Today is the Day Changemakers wherever you stream podcasts. Learn more about Megan Mukuria and support ZanaAfrica at ZanaAfrica.org . Learn more about Jodi Hope Grinwald, the podcast, books, leadership programs, and the Today is the Day Changemakers ecosystem at TodayIsTheDayLiveIt.com . Subscribe, follow, review, and share this episode to help more people discover Megan’s work. #MeganMukuria #ZanaAfrica #HarvardUniversity #HarvardAlumni #Connecticut #Kenya #MenstrualHealth #PeriodPoverty #MenstrualEquity #GirlsEducation #GenderEquality #WomensHealth #SocialEntrepreneurship #NonprofitLeadership #GlobalHealth #SocialImpact #Changemakers #TodayIsTheDayChangemakers Support the show





