Gigi Ermoyenous: I'm in the final year of sixth form and preparing to take my A-levels. I'm also an ambassador for The Steve Sinnott Foundation’s Positive Periods Project, as well as for the charity Period Power.

The challenges caused by menstruation, and the unfairness of period poverty, are two things that for as long as I can remember I have cared about. In 2017 I worked with my school to set up dignity boxes in toilets. I believe that period products are needed just as much as toilet paper, and as one is provided for free, the other should be too.

Environmental impact

My other passion when discussing periods is the benefit of reusable products. People need to be aware of the massive amount of plastic and chemical usage in period products. 90% of pads are plastic, that’s the equivalent of about four carrier bags per product. Not only is this harmful to the environment but also potentially to bodies too, alongside fragrances, beaches, gelling agents, and are causing environmental and health problems.

The most common menstrual products are veritable cornucopia of plastic. Tampons come wrapped in plastic, some encased in plastic applicators, with plastic strings, and most surprisingly include plastic in the body of the tampon. Pads generally incorporate even more plastic, from the leak proof base, the synthetics to absorb fluid, to the packaging, then there are the chemical absorbers, fillers and lubricants, plus chemical and pesticide residues from the manufacturing process.

This is why I campaign to raise awareness of reusable sanitary products. They are a cheaper and more eco-friendly choice.

Helping girls stay in school

A couple of years ago I met The Steve Sinnott Foundation at an NEU (National Education Union) meeting where I learnt about their Positive Periods Project.

I feel honoured and proud to have been invited to work with The Steve Sinnott Foundation. Their Positive Period Project aims to teach communities how to make reusable period packs. We support women in The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Malawi, Haiti and Cuba who struggle to afford period products. This causes them to suffer social stigma, and their education to stop. The Positive Periods Project teaches women and pupils in schools, to make their own reusable period pads from fabric and resources that they can source locally.

Positive Periods is creating independent women who manage their periods with dignity and pride. Girls miss approximately 52 days of education a year due to a lack of period products, and facilities to dispose of them properly. Once girls start to miss school, they often do not return.

Our project is proven to increase and prolong school attendance for girls, and benefits the local economy as the materials are sourced locally. Reusable pads are fairly easy to make and can stay in good condition for years. I've had a go at making some for myself, my family and friends, and intend to introduce the project in my school’s twin college, Asiky College in Namatumba Uganda.

A while ago pupils from my school carried out some research about periods and Asiky College. The results showed that most girls worried about getting their period while at school, and have missed school days because of their periods. An overwhelming number of pupils use items such as rags, newspapers, feathers, or over used disposable sanitary products. This of course can cause many different types of health problems.

The point of the Positive Periods Project is to ensure that girls around the world no longer have to experience this discomfort and indignity linked to their periods. Something that is natural and unavoidable for most women, and should be treated as such.

Thank you for the support

We are especially grateful to everyone who supported this work so far including the NEU and The Open Work Foundation for all their support with this project.

This project speaks to me of something empowering and inspiring. I wish to work with The Steve Sinnott Foundation in the next couple of years to gain first-hand experience. For now however, I will do everything I can to keep this project running, because we all struggled through the Covid pandemic.

I implore you all to donate what you can to support the Positive Periods Project. If you would like to find out what you can do to support the Positive Periods Project, please get in touch with Ann at ann.beatty@stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk or you can support now with our Gift Of Giving for Positive Periods.



Find out more about the our Positive Periods Project here.