NC teens start nonprofit to provide free period products in schools

It was a celebration worthy of cake! At least that was my opinion at the time. I was 16-years-old and I finally had started my period.

While many people might dread that milestone, I was anxiously awaiting the arrival, since all of my friends had welcomed their “little friend.” My dad got me a cake to celebrate. It is still one of the fondest memories that I have of my father.

Not everyone is that open to talking about (never mind celebrating) their menstrual cycle. It can be embarrassing, and even more embarrassing if you are not prepared.

That’s the reason two Green Hope High School students in Wake County started the Period Project.

Period Project NC is a non-profit organization that was started by Rose Rosaleen and Sarah Pazokian of Cary. The organization provides free period products in school bathrooms.

Rosaleen says she and Pazokian both had negative experiences with their periods in school. “We had gotten our period during the school day and had no products readily available to us in the school bathrooms. After experiencing this and hearing similar experiences from our friends, we realized that there is a serious need for products in school bathrooms and that we should do something about it,” says Rosaleen.

“Our organization wanted to tackle menstrual inequity while also eliminating the worry and shame that has previously been associated with menstruation at school,” says Rosaleen. The teenagers say menstruation is a taboo topic within schools, when in reality it is a normal bodily function that should be addressed.

The founders hope by keeping products readily available and stocked in girls bathrooms, girls no longer have to take the time out of their school day to go to the front office to get a product and miss class time or even go home. “Our period product dispensers ensure that no girl has to worry about getting her period at school or how she will deal with it. Our dispensers also benefit low income students and minorities to ensure that their hygiene is prioritized regardless of their social or economic status,” says Rosaleen.

Right now the Period Project has dispensers in two Wake County Schools (Green Hope High School and Panther Creek High School). The founders say they’re in the process of adding dispensers at Apex Friendship and Lowe’s Grove Middle School in Durham.

Donations help fund the Period Project. They also work with local businesses on donation drives. Rosaleen says the schools they provide period products for also have pad donation drives. They are also in need of student ambassadors to help with the cause.

The founders say their ultimate goal is to eliminate menstrual stigma in the education system across North Carolina. Rosaleen says, “We want to be able to provide period products to girls across the state while also empowering them and making them feel comfortable in their learning environment regardless of whether they’re on their period or not.”

I will eat cake to that!