Student and Staff Advocacy Makes an Impact. Period.

In schools around the world, lack of access to menstrual products is a significant issue, leaving many students struggling to manage their periods in a dignified and healthy manner. At The British School in The Netherlands Senior Schools, free period product dispensers will be installed on both campuses, thanks to a recent initiative led by students and staff. 

At Senior School Voorschoten, Year 13 student Kiki has driven forward a proposal to offer free menstrual products on the campus. She is proud that her months-long initiative is being rolled out. 

"I joined the BSN in 2019 and then the Student Council when I entered the Sixth Form to get more involved with the school community.

We worked on broader topics, but I wanted to have a purpose, and that’s how this project came about.

Making a Positive Impact

Kiki and three other students on the Student Council, Sofia, Millie and Chloe, started to plan.

“It was important to me to get this initiative in motion because it’s almost the end of my time here. I spoke to Mr Bennett, who was in charge of the Student Council at the time, about period products and how accessible they were. It’s a struggle when your period sneaks up on you. I’ve been asked so many times, “Do you have a period product for me?” and I’ve had to say ‘no’ so many times, and the girl would just have to ask more girls. You can get tampons and pads from the Health Care Officers, but when you’re in that moment, the need is urgent – you can’t just be walking around the school searching. What if the Health Care Officers are busy? What if you don’t feel comfortable asking? What if the period product is not the right size or doesn’t suit you? 

I’m hoping that with this initiative, there is a little less shame that the products are accessible when and if they are needed, but not to the point where anyone is made to feel uncomfortable. 

'Mr Bennett put a proposal in to the Senior Leadership Team. Between Year 12 and Year 13, Mr Lloyd took over the School Council, and, at the same time, exam season was coming up. Mr Lloyd and I had a couple of meetings, and he really helped support and push the initiative through the final stages. He sourced and approached the company and arranged all the details with the Senior Leadership Team.” 

A Proud Legacy

As her final year of schooling is drawing to a close soon, Kiki is proud to leave a legacy behind at the BSN. “I'm very happy with it and that it happened at this moment in time - it's before my exams, so I can still invest time into it.

I feel like I’m leaving my mark on the school, so yes, I’m very proud.

An Equitable Learning Environment 

At Senior School Leidschenveen, dispensers were installed earlier this year – a need the Wellbeing team felt strongly should be met. James Oxlade, SSL Headteacher, said, "We believe that access to basic necessities should never stand in the way of a student's education.

By making free sanitary products available to SSL students for the past year, we've taken a step towards creating a more equitable learning environment where every student can focus on their studies without worrying about their basic needs.

Empowering Everyone to Play a Role in Making an Impact 

The installation of free period product dispensers on both school campuses was made possible through the students' and staff's advocacy efforts. Kiki, Sofia, Millie, and Chloe's initiative shows the impact that young people can have in making change happen. Their successful initiative demonstrates that it is important to listen to young people and provide them with the resources they need.

Source 'State of the Period' White Paper, Thinx & PERIOD