Stories of #GoodChange
Girls Get Hands-on to Tackle Period Poverty
I was surprised to learn how many people were shamed and prevented from accessing school, because of their period
Through a collaborative period poverty awareness workshop, hosted by Good Neighbours Australia (GNAU) and its partner Days for Girls Australia (DfGA), high school students recently learnt how ‘period poverty’ impacts less fortunate girls around the world.
Hands-On Learning and Support
The workshop format provided a highly engaging and hands-on experience for students, while educating them about the challenges faced by girls of a similar age, when managing their menstrual health in marginalised communities overseas.
More than an educational exercise, the students actively contributed to the cause by constructing environmentally friendly, washable menstrual kits known as Days for Girls Kits (DfG Kits), for shipping to girls and women in our partner countries.
A teacher involved in the program highlighted: “This is a really meaningful way for our students to support girls of a similar age, while also gaining valuable insights into ‘period poverty’ in developing countries. Some girls live in circumstances beyond our girls’ comprehension”.
The Bigger Picture: GNAU's Philippines Project
The workshop also shines a light on GNAU’s new project in the Philippines, which will see 156 adolescent girls, their mothers, and 16 teachers at Tubabao National High School in the Eastern Samar supported with menstrual health education and resources, in addition to construction of six classroom toilets.
Sylvia (Hyosil) Lee, Executive Director of GNAU said, “The Eastern Samar area has been chosen due to its high exposure to cyclones and typhoons that can have a particularly devastating effect on women and girls’ menstrual and reproductive health, when disaster strikes”.
GNAU’s efforts in Eastern Samar go beyond immediate relief. Sylvia emphasised the long-term impact: “While our project in Eastern Samar will help build community resilience and disaster-readiness, it will also help girls at Tubabao School learn to manage their menstrual cycles and teach them about their reproductive rights now, leading to better educational and long-term outcomes”.
Starting from a classroom in Sydney and reaching across the ocean to the Philippines, this initiative shows how local action can drive global change. It’s a powerful reminder of the difference we can make when we come together to address fundamental human rights and dignity.
