Ophea’s Sector Spotlight aims to illuminate the bright spots within the education sector through recognizing the critical work being done by community members and value-aligned organizations, and its impact on student and staff well-being. This initiative also aims to strengthen connections between the Ontario education sector and organizations serving equity-deserving groups through raising awareness of the resources and services available to Ontario educators.
We’re excited to highlight The Period Purse, a charity working across Canada to eliminate period poverty and stigma. Period poverty refers to a host of issues relating to the affordability and accessibility of appropriate menstrual products and services that people who menstruate require for safe, healthy periods, such as running water. Equitable access to these products and services is crucial to ensure that people are empowered to care for their bodies.
The Period Purse is a staunch advocate for policy changes at all levels of government, and delivers comprehensive period education sessions for students and adults of all genders to further their goals of reducing period stigma and eliminating period poverty. Read on to learn more about the critical work this organization does and how you can get involved!
Tell us about your organization.
The Period Purse is Canada’s largest national charitable organization dedicated to ending period poverty and stigma. We started in 2017 as a grass-roots organization collecting period products to donate to organizations in the GTA and have grown to a registered charity with a national scope. In addition to collecting and donating products to our community partners, we advocate for policy changes at all levels of government and have a robust education program aimed at all ages and genders.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your organization?
One thing people should know about The Period Purse is that we educate all ages and genders, not just people who menstruate. We prefer not to separate our sessions by gender, and if asked to do so, we will offer two simultaneous sessions so that everyone receives the same education. Everyone needs to understand the menstrual cycle, including what it is and how it affects people, and what period products are and why they should be considered as essential as items like toilet paper and soap. We cannot change the stigma around periods if we can’t talk about them openly with everyone, and if we can’t talk about periods openly, we can’t address the very real issue of period poverty. Things aren’t going to change unless everyone receives this education.
What is a recent initiative that you are proud of?
This past year we launched a new training session, How to Talk to Kids About Periods. This session grew out of our most popular youth session, Periods 101, which is aimed at kids aged 9-14; During these youth sessions the adults in the room consistently commented on how much period products have changed, or how their own period education needed an update. We also heard from students that they didn’t know where to find period products in their schools and they were too embarrassed to ask teachers about it. At these same schools, teachers would say that they had products available “in case anybody asked for them,” but it was clear that many students didn’t know this information or were too nervous to ask. We addressed these issues and more in How to Talk to Kids About Periods, which provides up-to-date facts about periods and period products and also discusses strategies on how adults can create informed, open and safer spaces to talk about periods with kids. Our goal is to help both adults and children feel more comfortable when addressing conversations around periods.
How can our audience support your organization’s goals?
The easiest thing you can do to support our goals in tackling period poverty and stigma is simply talking about periods in your day-to-day life and work. Acknowledge that periods exist, often and repeatedly, so students and those around you gain an understanding that periods are normal and not something to be ashamed about. Next, book one of our facilitators, either in-person or virtually, to lead a period education session with your staff or students. We offer a range of fully-funded (FREE to schools!) education sessions on period basics, reusable period products and period poverty and advocacy. Our participants report a thirty percent increase in comfort talking about periods following a session. Lastly, consider running a period product drive with your class or school. By collecting period products you are putting them front and centre, which goes a long way in helping to destigmatize periods, while also collecting products to give to those who cannot afford them.
To learn more about The Period Purse, visit their website. Interested in booking a period education or advocacy session for your classroom or school community? Get in touch with The Period Purse today at education@theperiodpurse.com!