Since the beginning of the school term, our headteacher, Mrs Mullen, has organised a group of 6th year girls to  effectively tackle the issue of period poverty

WHAT IS PERIOD POVERTY?

Many young girls and women are missing out on their education due to not being able to afford sanitary products such as sanitary towels, tampons, diva cups etc.

In fact, many underestimate the seriousness of the issue with regards to the availability of sanitary products to women, even here in our developed country. According to women’s rights charity Plan International UK, one in ten girls are unable to afford sanitary wear. In addition, one in five girls have been forced to change to a less suitable and effective sanitary product due to affordability issues. These statistics certainly came as a shock to me.

In order to solve this issue, the 6th year girls along with Mrs Mullen, our headteacher, have decided to establish a Period Poverty Committee – a group of individuals who are united in their commitment to tackle period poverty here in our own school. The Committee will be speaking to girls in the younger years at assemblies and also plan to speak to and educate the boys on the taboo issue. It was widely recognised by the committee that many males are not educated on the subject and therefore don’t really understand the struggle and changes that a girl is going through. This lack of knowledge on the subject means that many males are unwilling to tackle the issue of period poverty as they do not feel that their knowledge on the subject is strong enough.

Colette Simone herself said:

“No girl should have to have anything that stops you from getting an education and that’s why everyone welcomes this initiative”

How are Saint Andrew’s and Saint Bride’s High School tackling period poverty?

In order to help girls who struggle with affordability issues, the 6th year girls will be introducing free sanitary products – diva cups, washable sanitary towels, sanitary towels, tampons – into the school bathrooms in the hopes that girls of all years will benefit from the initiative.

In order to discuss the huge steps that our school is taking in order to tackle the huge problem of period poverty, important guests, including local MSP Linda Fabiani, Deputy Provost Collette Stevenson and Lynn Sherry, South Lanarkshire Council’s Head of Education, were invited to Saint Andrew’s and Saint Bride’s High School last week.

More than thirty sixth year pupils have volunteered to help with the cause. The initiative has been well received by the year as many are enthusiastic to share their ideas and get involved in destroying the stigma associated with girls having their periods which is, of course, a natural part of human life.

Lynn Sherry also highlighted that she is

“Absolutely delighted that this is going ahead and at the fact that this is taking off at the start of the school session and that the children have been heavily involved”

  • By Erin Brady, Reporter
  • Sources: Plan International UK
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