Proud Period Festival
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Proud Period Festival 〰️
SOCIAL ACTION PROJECT
Make your Mark at
The Proud Period Festival
Before meeting this group of young change-makers we were told by their teachers about their passion for activism and, how they were looking for an opportunity to channel their passion for change in a way that would make them proud.
The Proud Period Festival is a social impact project co-founded by 14 teenage girls who are on a mission to normalise periods and advocate for better access to period healthcare.
"If I could change one thing to make period care better I would create something that ensures free access to sanitary products and information to those most affected by the cost of periods e.g. young girls with no income or girls and women experiencing homelessness. I would create something that gives them ongoing support, better education about what a health period looks like, and how to seek support with period problems."
Themes
Period Poverty, Period Empowerment, Mensuration, Women’s Health, Empowerment, Periods, Education
Community Partners
School 21
Big Education Trust
Unreasonable Studios
Vans Europe
Session Experts
Maria Than - Ricebox Studios
Ammaarah Zayna - Gender Studies Specialist
Nadina Ali (@thisisnadina) - Typographer, Illustrator
Samara Addai - Videographer
Unreasonable Studios - Host
Our session with Ammaarah Zayna learning all about intersectional feminism and designing solutions which consider all of the experiences of others.
Working with filmmaker Samara Addai to learn how to visualise our research into short films, social adverts to raise awareness about the issue of period poverty.
DEFINING THE CHANGE WE NEED TO SEE
How might we provide better access to period healthcare and hygiene to those who need it most?
It was clear to us women experiencing homelessness have no freedom or relief when they are on their period. They struggle to access products which led them to using found tissues and socks so we wanted to give these women a chance to feel clean and more supported whilst on their period.
We found a shelter who helped women going through homelessness and asked them if our project would be useful and they said it would be as homeless shelters can’t always provide these products and offer choice.
Here we are meeting with The Marylebone Project to talk to them about periods and women experiencing homelessness.
We prepared a series of workshops to learn more about the needs of women experiencing homelessness when they are menstruating.
The Marylebone Project is providing 24/7, 365 safety & support for homeless women.
The Marylebone Project provides a life-changing service for homeless women and is the largest and longest-running centre of its kind in London and the UK with over 90 years of experience supporting vulnerable homeless women in crisis affected by:
Domestic abuse
Human trafficking
Domestic servitude
Alcohol and drug abuse
Unemployment
Multiple complex needs
Loneliness
Learning disabilities
Minority ethnicity issues
Through our conversations we started to understand the needs and the barriers that needed overcoming so all women experiencing homelessness could access better period healthcare and hygiene.
We were all so drawn to the idea of a Period Vending Machine which would be equipped with the essential items you may need when preparing or during your period (tampons, pain relief, knickers, wipes etc). We started to imagine who this system would work, how we could sustain free period care, improve education and get these vending machines to the places where they are needed the most.
We are not the only ones who wanted to see this change in the world. Organisations like Hey Girls and Femly are on the case innovating and raising the funds to fit free sanitary care dispensers in school toilets and public spaces. We really hope these expand in the near future to women experiencing homelessness.
RE-DEFINING THE CHANGE WE NEED TO SEE
How might we How might we create a space that empowers and educates young people who menstruate?
Although we had to pivot our mission remained the same…We aim to create a world in which periods can be accepted and celebrated & end the poverty of menstrual education & health
