Students’ project draws thanks from their peers
Two South Canterbury students on a mission to reduce period poverty at their school are hoping to inspire others to do the same.
Aleisha Smith and Cat MacClure, both 17, with the help of teacher Justine Carson-Iles started Project Period to provide students at Mountainview High School with sustainable products for their periods.
To date, they have raised enough funds to supply three pairs of period underwear to every student in need.
‘‘We think three is a good number as it works with most people’s washing cycle,’’ Cat said.
‘‘It has been really great to hear from some students who we have already given out some products too.
‘‘I have had a few people come up to me and say thank you,’’ she said.
The pair were given a $400 voucher from The Warehouse, which they used to purchase reusable underwear for a trialrun before launching their full project.
They said the trial, which they ran at the end of term two, allowed them to see how the project could benefit students.
After students confirmed they liked the initiative, they looked into expanding the project to more people, they said.
Since then, they had raised more than $1000 via their Go Fund Me page which had been used to buy the underwear.
The duo did some research into brands and decided to spend the money they raised from crowdfunding on products from New Zealand brand AWWA period care.
AWWA was New Zealand’s first period-proof underwear company. The company was created by two mums, Kylie Matthews and Michele Wilson, in 2018 when they saw a gap in the market for locally-produced period products.
‘‘We were able to work with them on purchasing a bulk order for a discounted rate, and we were lucky that we could also receive some as part of their donate a pair [initiative],’’
Aleisha said.
‘‘We put in an order for 75 pairs, and they matched us.
‘‘The donated pairs are older stock through their ‘donate a pair’ which is where businesses and people can buy pairs and then AWWA donates them to people and groups who need them.
‘‘We are surprised we are on track to where we wanted to be, we have managed to get products and start distributing,’’ Aleisha said.
‘‘We hoped to be distributing them by the end of the second term, but we are all ready to go on the first day of the third term so that is fantastic.’’
The project had also had a positive impact on some nonbinary students at the school, Cat said.
‘‘Some non-binary students have been able to try period underwear and change from traditional menstruation products,’’ she said.
‘‘Some products don’t help people align with their gender identity, but if they use period underwear it feels just like wearing underwear and so it can feel a bit more normal,’’ Aleisha said.
The sustainability aspect of the project, and changing people mindset of reusable products was something Cat said she and Aleisha were very passionate about.
‘‘We hope that by inspiring people to choose more sustainable period products, if they have kids one day they might think about reusable nappies,’’ Cat said.
‘‘The stuff that is going on to try battle period poverty is a start, we are just expanding on that,’’ Aleisha said.
‘‘We hope we can inspire other schools in Timaru and the rest of the country.’’