Gabriela V.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gabriela noticed a recurring problem: period poverty. On the other hand, there are environmental effects to consider as well. On average, an individual who menstruates accumulates 200 kilograms of waste from disposable sanitary products, most of which is plastic that will remain in nature for 400 years. With the aim of raising awareness about sexual health, reproductive rights, and helping prevent child abuse, Gabriela founded Ciclo de Amor (Cycle of Love).

The project conducts group discussions, workshops, and lectures in orphanages and public schools. It also donates hygiene kits called "Kits Amorosos" (Loving Kits), as well as basic food baskets and reusable eco-friendly sanitary pads. In the digital realm, the group initiates discussions about these topics on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. The project began as a Girl Up initiative and gradually opened up registration for more people to join and support the cause.

Currently, the team consists of 30 individuals, including both girls and boys working in areas such as Public Relations, Campaigns, Social Media, and Partnerships. Over the course of three years, Ciclo de Amor has donated over 700 sanitary pads, 50 food baskets, and received more than R$30,000 in partnership with organizations supporting social impact. Gabriela envisions a world where marginalized girls have their dignity respected, especially by the State, and where period poverty is no longer a reality. For the coming years, her main goals include enabling mothers in Rio de Janeiro's periphery to produce the sanitary pads used within their own community and expanding the project to other states. She also aims to triple the number of donated sanitary pads, reach transgender men and women with disabilities (PCDs), and increase overall impact.