Latest news with #periodpoverty
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Free period products on offer across Wychavon public toilets
Free sustainable period products will be made available as part of a trial initiative across public toilets in a Worcestershire poverty charity Hey Girls have teamed up with Wychavon District Council to make the items free to access as part of a project to address the Beverley Hardman said she wanted to shift away from period poverty to advocate for "period dignity".She said: "It's about promoting a positive message, promoting a supportive environment, and empowering women while tackling the stigma associated with periods." The Conservative councillor added that the cost-of-living crisis significantly exacerbated economic hardship, forcing families to make tough choices between basic necessities."While Wychavon is generally considered an affluent area, it does have pockets of deprivation."We know that the demand for period products is there but, it's not just about addressing a lack of access; it's about creating a culture where periods are normalised, and no one feels shame or stigma. "It's not just about providing products; it's about showing we care," she the initial trial period, free period products will be available through free-to-use machines located in all female toilets in the district. Products are made from bamboo and will be made from certified organic cotton, the council said. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Warren-based Moms Helping Moms nonprofit celebrates expansion
WARREN – Moms Helping Moms, a township-based nonprofit dedicated to providing baby essentials and period products to families in need, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 11 celebrating the opening of its new warehouse space. The event was attended by local dignitaries including Warren Township Mayor Lisa Lontai and Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis, who offered words of support and praise for the organization's mission and community impact. 'We are honored to celebrate this milestone surrounded by our supporters and local leaders who believe in the importance of dignity, health, and access to basic needs,' stated Nahela Hadi, executive director of Moms Helping Moms. 'This new space will allow us to expand our reach, serve more families, and continue the fight against diaper need and period poverty across New Jersey.' The expanded warehouse provides more room for storage, packing, and organizing donated items, including diapers, wipes, period products, hygiene supplies, and more. It will enable the organization to streamline distribution to its growing network of community partners and social service agencies. The ribbon-cutting marks not just a physical expansion, but a renewed commitment to ensuring that no family in New Jersey has to choose between food and basic health supplies, organizers said. For more information about Moms Helping Moms or to support its work, visit Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for This article originally appeared on Moms Helping Moms NJ nonprofit celebrates expansion
News24
30-05-2025
- Business
- News24
SPAR fights period poverty with affordable menstrual care
About seven million South African women are held captive by 'period poverty' and face potential long-term consequences that begin with missing school and later lead to lost educational and employment opportunities, says SPAR South Africa, which announced today (date to be inserted) that it is launching a practical national campaign to help women have access to affordable hygiene products. From May 28, designated as Menstrual Hygiene Day worldwide, SPAR will support menstrual health for women by ensuring that, for under R100 per year (on average R6 per month), girls and women can access sanitary towels at SPAR stores throughout South Africa, says Mpudi Maubane, National PR, Communications & Sponsorships Manager at The SPAR Group. The offer will continue until further notice says Maubane, stressing that the objective is part of SPAR's commitment to helping promote the dignity of all South African women by working to bring an end to period poverty by 2030. 'Presently, about 30% of the nation's girls miss school regularly because they can't afford menstrual hygiene products. Each girl misses about 50 days of schooling a year, placing her at a learning disadvantage. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of basic sanitation and toilets in more than 1,700 schools, where shortages of running water and soap are also common.' 'We are dedicated to implementing practical interventions by making sanitary products affordable and easily accessible. At the same time, we support ongoing efforts to normalise conversations around menstruation, a subject often avoided or regarded as taboo in many sectors of society.' As a community-based retailer, SPAR is committed to supporting the health and dignity of all women and girls. Breaking the stigma requires the involvement of everyone. SPAR is determined to lead the way by promoting discussions about what is a natural feminine function, and by fostering understanding and support, finding ways to address the issues of period poverty in schools and workplaces, stresses Maubane. 'By enabling girls and women, especially those who face financial challenges, to buy quality pads at a price that will fit even the tightest household budgets, SPAR South Africa is proud to be fostering the development of an inclusive society in which women can take their rightful places without being held back by something as natural as menstruation,' says Maubane. For Further information about the SPAR campaign and ways to contribute to ending period poverty in South Africa, visit
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Period Promise event tackles period poverty on Menstrual Hygiene Day
Members of Chatham-Kent Secondary School's student council at their own menstrual product drive. (Source: The United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent) The United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent is holding a drive-through donation event, collecting menstrual products to combat period poverty. The products collected will support people with periods in the Chatham-Kent region. 'Period Promise is about dignity, equity, and ensuring everyone in our community has access to the basic products they need,' said Lorraine Goddard, CEO of the United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent. 'Menstrual hygiene products are essential, not optional. This event gives our community a meaningful way to help remove the barriers too many people still face.' If you would like to drop off products, the drive-through will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., accepting pads, tampons, pantyliners, menstrual cups, and other brand new, unopened products. They can be delivered to Our Savior's Lutheran Church at 445 McNaughton Avenue West, Chatham. If you are unable to make it in person, you are asked to help spread the word, organize a mini drive, or consider making a donation online here. Collection was kicked off by the Chatham-Kent Secondary School student council, who organized their own school-wide drive to support Period Promise.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Canadian Innovation Revolutionizes Menstrual Health Worldwide with the Bfree Cup - The World's First Boil-Free, Antibacterial Menstrual Cup
WINNIPEG, MB, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - What if a simple, safe innovation could break taboos, restore dignity, and end period poverty? Enter the Bfree Cup, the world's only antibacterial, boil-free menstrual cup, developed by Canadian social enterprise Women's Global Health Innovations (WGHI). This small but mighty innovation is making a big impact on global health, gender equity, and dignity. Proudly made in Canada, the Bfree Cup eliminates the need to boil water to sterilize menstrual products - a barrier in many water-scarce regions. Built-in antimicrobial technology makes it a safe, reusable, and affordable solution for menstruators worldwide. It's not just changing periods, it's changing lives. More than a product, the Bfree Cup is a symbol of Canadian ingenuity and collaboration. It's helping girls stay in school, reducing stigma, and improving menstrual literacy. WGHI partners with grassroots organizations and NGOs across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia to distribute cups and education, proving that small Canadian enterprises can be powerful players in global health. Supported by the Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT) in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, WGHI introduced the Bfree Cup with partners in multiple countries. FIT's funding and technical support helped transform a bold Canadian idea into a scalable global solution. "This is exactly what Canadian international assistance can accomplish, and an excellent example of the kinds of transformative, locally-rooted solutions the world needs," says Janice Hamilton, Executive Director. "WGHI's Bfree Cup not only addresses a fundamental health gap, it builds connections between Canadian innovators and communities around the world." Created by Leisa Hirtz, WGHI's Founder and CEO, the Bfree Cup was shaped by years of research and community input. "Access to safe menstrual care is a human right," says Hirtz. "The Bfree Cup removes barriers of affordability, stigma, and sanitation. It's a game-changer - especially where silence and shame still prevail." "The school incinerator is in an open space where boys stand and laugh at girls who always come to dispose of their used pads," says a 19-year-old Bfree Cup user and testing participant in rural Uganda. "But now with the Bfree Cup, the boys never know when I am on my period, and this has made me more comfortable in school and also boosted my confidence in school." With bold vision and deep collaboration, the Bfree Cup is showing what happens when Canadian innovation meets global need. It reminds us that it doesn't take a giant to make change - it takes a village. And this village is just getting started. Watch "Canadian Innovation Revolutionizes Menstrual Health" PSA Here #CIW25 #periodfriendlyworld About FIT A 7-year, $20.5 M initiative of the Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation, the Fund for Innovation and Transformation is funded by Global Affairs Canada and administered by the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation. FIT is designed to support Canadian small and medium-sized organizations testing innovative solutions that advance gender equality in the Global South. The program supports civil society organizations, social enterprises, post-secondary institutions and the private sector. About ICN The Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation is a coalition of the eight Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation. These independent member-based Councils are committed to global social justice and social change and represent more than 350 diverse civil society organizations from across Canada. About MCIC A coalition of Manitoba-based organizations involved in international development, the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC)'s mission is to support, connect and amplify the work of its members and partners, while directly engaging and collaborating with Manitobans for global sustainability. MCIC encourages dialogue on global issues and helps empower Manitobans to become active global citizens - individuals who understand that their actions here make a difference around the world. MCIC is also responsible for distributing Government of Manitoba and Government of Canada funds designated for international development and humanitarian projects. About Global Affairs Canada Global Affairs Canada manages Canada's diplomatic relations, provides consular services to Canadians, promotes the country's international trade, and leads Canada's international development and humanitarian assistance. FIT is a program undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada. Social Media Links: Facebook: Twitter: Linkedin: Instagram: SOURCE Fund for Innovation and Transformation (FIT) View original content to download multimedia:
