Brain Trust | Safiya - Ricebox

​A Brain Trust is a 1-hour group brainstorming session where experts from the RIVET ecosystem provide feedback and advice on a challenge or initiative that a social innovator is working on.

At the intersection of art, activism and community storytelling, Ricebox Studio is creating space for conversations that are often left unspoken. Through their project “chat and patch: How do you say periods in your language,” the collective explores the cultural, linguistic, and generational nuances surrounding menstruation, particularly within South Asian communities.

​What began as a series of intergenerational workshops in London and Sheffield evolved into a deeply collaborative and creative body of work. Participants were invited to share the words, euphemisms, and stories they associate with menstruation in their native languages. These reflections were then transformed into quilt squares, each one a visual and cultural artefact, accompanied by recorded narratives that bring these expressions to life.

​The result was an interactive exhibit that blends textile art, audio storytelling, and digital media, challenging stigma while honoring lived experiences. By weaving together voices across generations, Ricebox Studio is not only documenting language but reshaping how communities engage with topics often considered taboo.