Andrea Espinoza: What Began as a Small Business Is Now Reaching Women Across Ecuador

International Women’s Day is a time to recognize the women whose leadership is creating lasting change in their communities. In Ecuador, Andrea Espinoza has helped expand menstrual health education, access, and opportunity for thousands of girls and women.

Before joining Days for Girls, Andrea had already begun making washable cloth pads and selling them in her community. Her business was “small and almost invisible”, but the purpose behind it was powerful. She wanted girls and women to have a healthier, more sustainable option for managing their periods.

Everything changed when she met Angela Stokes, who is now a business mentor to her Days for Girls Social Enterprise in Ecuador. Angela saw the potential in Andrea’s work and encouraged her to think bigger.

“This should be distributed throughout the entire country,” Angela told her. “And we should be educating, too.”

That conversation sparked a new chapter. One focused on education, training, and leadership development for women across the country.

Today, Andrea is the owner/entrepreneur, running the DfG Social Enterprise in Ecuador. She built and led the enterprise while also supporting sales and delivering menstrual health education training and providing employment opportunities for women in her community. Together with her team, she has helped reach thousands with education and access to washable menstrual products while also supporting women with limited resources.

“Girls and women deserve to accept menstruation as a natural and healthy part of their bodies,” Andrea explains. “Ending myths and discrimination begins with education.”

Her journey with Days for Girls has created ripple effects far beyond her own life. Her work has transformed not only her future, but also the lives of her family, the women who work alongside her, and the many girls and women they serve across Ecuador.

For Andrea, International Women’s Day is a moment to honor the generations of women who fought for dignity and equality before us. It is also a reminder that progress continues through the actions of women today.

By building businesses, sharing knowledge, and empowering others, women like Andrea are helping create communities rooted in dignity, balance, and opportunity.