Help us tackle period poverty

In the lead-up to World Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May, we are collecting menstrual products for secondary schools where many students cannot afford menstrual products. This initiative runs from 28 April to 28 May. Through Tutoraat we collaborate with schools whose students come from diverse backgrounds and for whom the purchase of menstrual products is not always affordable. Research shows that more than 1 in 8 students in Flanders do not have sufficient means to buy menstrual products. Among students living in poverty, this applies to nearly half of them.

This initiative is part of our broader commitment to tackling period poverty and stigma, both within and beyond UAntwerp.

If you’d like to contribute, please bring unopened menstrual products (preferably sanitary pads) to one of the collection points on campus.

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Stadscampus: Library Desk (Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp)

Campus Drie Eiken: Library Desk (Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk - building R)

Campus Middelheim: Student restaurant KOMIDA (Middelheimlaan 1, 2020 Antwerp)

Spread the word and let’s make a difference together!

Testimonial from a school principal: 

"Our school serves a large number of students growing up in poverty. Every day, we are faced with the reality that basic necessities, which many people take for granted, are not always accessible to our students. This also includes menstrual products. For some of our students, having enough hygienic products to get through the school day comfortably is not a given. Not having enough menstrual products has a direct impact on their well-being. As a school, we actively try to address this.

Our support staff and teachers are always there for our students, and they’ve built a relationship of trust, so students feel safe asking for help. We previously relied on an external organisation to provide menstrual products, but unfortunately that support has come to an end. That’s why we organised our own collection to keep meeting the need. Even so, we notice that the demand remains high and our resources are limited. With enough menstrual products, we can make a real difference in the daily lives of our students and support their well-being."

Not everyone who menstruates always has a tampon, a sanitary pad or a menstrual cup on hand - sometimes out of forgetfulness, out of lack of money, or due to an unexpected menstrual cycle. After a successful pilot project, UAntwerp is the first Flemish university to distribute free sanitary pads and tampons in all women's and gender neutral toilets since the beginning of 2023.  

Menstruation can be a source of stress, anxiety and shame. It is not your choice whether you menstruate or not, and you do not always have control over when your cycle starts. This can lead to unpleasant surprises, especially if you don't have your own menstrual products. 

We take our responsibility to provide free menstrual products to staff and students in need. This is not only about tackling period poverty, but also about recognising that menstrual products, like other essentials, are a basic need for those who cannot afford them. By making these products freely available and visible on campus, we also aim to raise awareness of menstrual stigma alongside period poverty.

According to research by the non-profit organisation Caritas, one in eight women in Flanders cannot (always) afford menstrual products. Among Flemish girls living in poverty, this figure rises to 45%. Half of those surveyed admit to having used handkerchiefs or an extra pair of underwear because they did not have menstrual products. In addition, 5% of girls and women aged 12 to 25 have missed school because they did not have enough money for menstrual products. For girls and women living in poverty, this rises to 15%. 

Poverty - and period poverty in particular - often goes unnoticed and this lack of visibility reinforces the taboo. By offering free menstrual products, we aim to raise awareness and help break the taboo and reduce the stigma around period poverty.

Have you made use of the free menstrual products? Would you like to share your thoughts on the university's decision to offer them? We’d love to hear from you.
Let us know here.