Girls Across the World Face Period Poverty, But One Non-Profit Is Changing the Narrative

“It's gross.”

“It's unhygienic.”

“It's embarrassing.”

The stigma surrounding menstruation has negatively affected women for centuries, and these are only a few of the many have heard throughout their lives. When a perfectly normal human function turns into a means of shaming an entire gender, we begin to realize the problem isn't periods. In reality, the problem lies with people committed to misunderstanding them.

One non-profit has spent more than a decade fighting to end the stigma surrounding menstrual cycles. We speak with Melissa Berton, founder of The Pad Project, to learn more about how they empower women worldwide and make menstrual products widely accessible.

The Pad Project: Ending One Sentence by Starting Another

The Pad Project has humble origins. It began in 2013 when Melissa Berton, a high school teacher, and eight students attended the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. There, they learned of the injustices many school-aged girls faced regarding access to menstrual products. This is known as period poverty, meaning essentials like pads, tampons, and other menstrual hygiene products are often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women catalyzed this determined group of nine to change the world for women. After learning that girls dropped out of school without access to menstrual products, Berton's students were shocked. Thus, The Pad Project was born.

“That outrage fueled our belief that ‘a period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education.' We raised funds to install a pad machine in a rural Indian village and documented the journey in a film, which ultimately became the Oscar-winning short, Period. End of Sentence.,” says Berton. However, getting this successful non-profit off the ground was far from easy. Berton's students had help — and inspiration — from a surprising source: their mothers.

“The origin of The Pad Project is at its heart a story about mothers and daughters. When my students decided to take action against period poverty, they didn’t know how to start a nonprofit, fundraise, or make a film — so they turned to their mothers for help,” says Berton, adding that her role as a mom also came into play.

“My own daughter, Helen, was part of that original group, and together, we were brainstorming a mission statement in the car on the way to school. We wanted something that reflected our classroom roots and our goal to ensure no girl misses school because of her period. That’s when Helen blurted out, ‘A period should end a sentence, not a girl's education.'”

“Period” Isn't a Bad Word

Berton says the most significant challenge they faced was eradicating the negative beliefs surrounding periods. This stigma has only reinforced the notion that period poverty is not a human rights issue. Reversing this mindset was something The Period Project tackled head-on.

“We were a small, inexperienced group trying to create global change. It took seven years of perseverance, partnerships, and belief in our mission to evolve from a classroom project to a nonprofit that now supports menstrual health programs in 12 countries,” says Berton.

The founder also shared that even publicly saying the word “period” felt radical at the time.

The Period Project overcame many challenges in its fight to end period poverty, including negative stereotypes, logistical hurdles, and funding gaps. Despite this, Berton says their passion never wavered.

“I will never forget that in the week leading up to the Academy Awards ceremony, a longstanding member of the Academy's director's branch told us that neither he nor his male peers would ever vote for a film about menstruation to win an Oscar, because periods were just ‘too icky,'” says Berton.

“That moment laid bare exactly why this work matters—and made our eventual win all the more meaningful.”

Menstrual Health Is a Basic Human Right

It's estimated that in the U.S. alone, one in four teens misses class due to their period. Not having access to pads, period cups, or tampons severely impacts a teen's mental and physical health when they hit puberty. Students are more likely to miss class out of embarrassment or fear when they're not provided freely at school. If a student can't afford pads or tampons, it only reinforces the idea that these things are a luxury item.

According to The Pad Project, 28 states currently tax menstrual products. This starkly contrasts with what we view as essentials, like groceries or other medical devices.

According to Christine Mwangi, founder of Be a Rose, they're still not covered by food stamps or health insurance. Several states eliminated the tampon tax in 2020, but 20 states still enforce this unjust tax on a basic human essential. These statistics are staggering today, but Berton believes one thing more powerful than numbers is storytelling.

“Statistics like the tampon tax or school absenteeism show the systemic problem, but personal stories create empathy,” she says. “One story that continues to stay with me is that of 13-year-old Itsata George from Bumpe, Sierra Leone. She was taking her qualifying exams to graduate middle school when she bled through her uniform because she didn’t have a simple pad. Thankfully, she was able to return and take the exam another day, but in many parts of the world, an experience like that could mean the end of a girl’s education.”

Today, The Pad Project has grown substantially. In 12 years, it has provided more than two million products to women across the U.S. and reached more than 150,000 people through menstrual health education workshops. They've also implemented 20 menstrual programs in 10 low and middle-class countries. Additionally, they've installed 12 pad-making machines in Afghanistan, India, Kenya, Nepal, & Sri Lanka.

These calls to action have helped empower women to regain control of their lives. Increased and affordable access to menstrual products means they can find work, attend classes, and live a life that may never have existed.

How You Can Help End Period Poverty

Berton thinks back to when she knew this non-profit was making a difference, and recalls one moment that stuck with her. “One unforgettable moment was when Period. End of Sentence. won the Academy Award in 2019.

It validated the importance of menstrual justice and sparked a global conversation,” she says. “But perhaps even more powerful was visiting the village in India where our first pad machine was installed. The mothers who were manufacturing the pads named their product ‘FLY' pads because they wanted their daughters to soar.”

Among all the inspirational moments The Pad Project has seen, one of the most significant is knowing that one voice can make a difference. The non-profit now has over 400 brand ambassadors worldwide, all volunteer activists. It has welcomed people from 44 countries aged 12 to 60, all aiming to end period poverty.

What Does It Mean to Be a Brand Ambassador?

“Being a Pad Project ambassador means using your voice, creativity, and leadership to promote menstrual equity in your community, says Berton. “They are normalizing periods, breaking taboos, and ensuring menstrual health is treated as essential.”

Ambassador meetings are held virtually, and anyone with the drive to fight against inequality is encouraged to apply. Potential volunteers can check The Pad Project's deadlines to determine when applications open and close for the year.

You can make a difference in your community even if you're not an ambassador. Word of mouth is a powerful tool, especially when used to advocate for equality. Berton recommends starting small but speaking up.

“Normalize conversations about menstruation at home, school, and work. Organize pad drives, host screenings of Period. End of Sentence., or advocate for free menstrual products in public spaces. Educate others with facts and empathy.”

She explains that you don’t need a big platform to make an impact, because local actions create lasting change. “The most powerful thing you can do is be brave enough to start the conversation and keep it going,” she says.

Debunking myths and destigmatizing periods can be as easy as sharing the facts, and Berton agrees. “Menstrual equity is about dignity, health, and equal opportunity. Too many people around the world, including in the U.S., miss school or work because they can't afford period products,” she says.

“No one should be held back or made to feel ashamed for a natural biological process. Access to period care is a fundamental human right.” At the very core of period poverty lies a wealth of misinformation. Berton and The Period Project believe we can each fight to end this stigma in our own ways. She leaves us with one simple, but powerful truth.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©cheapbooks/Shutterstock.com.