Period poverty is a real issue for youth in Alberta..According to Alberta's government, many young women face challenges affording and accessing the products they need to manage their periods, which can result in them missing school, work, and social activities..Alberta’s government is investing $260,000 in 'Period Promise' to improve menstrual care and provide period products to youth in need..“Periods are a natural part of life, but when individuals don’t have adequate products and information, it can seriously impact their health," Associate Minister of Status of Women Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk said.."Our government’s investment in Period Promise is an important step in ensuring people can participate in school, work, and social events feeling comfortable and supported.”.Period Promise is a United Way initiative in partnership with Alberta’s government. The initiative provides free menstrual products in 50 schools across the province. Funding from the government will go towards installing period product dispensers in bathrooms along with an educational campaign.."United Way Central Alberta has been tackling period poverty throughout our region this past year, and we are eager to partner with the Government of Alberta and United Ways province-wide to expand 'Period Promise' school pilots," CEO of United Way Central Alberta Chelsea O'Donoghue said.."Data from our current school pilot in four Red Deer schools underlines the need for barrier-free access to pads and tampons, with over 62% of respondents indicating they've left or missed school because period products weren't available to them. Together, we are mobilizing to make a local impact on reducing vulnerability and isolation caused by period poverty, removing barriers to essential products, supporting gender equity, and normalizing periods.".According to Alberta's government, the campaign’s goal is to "destigmatize" women’s health issues, including periods, in schools, workplaces, and community organizations..According to the provincial government, "Period poverty" is compounded by the stigma that still exists when talking about periods with friends, coworkers, and even family members..Only 66% of parents say they are comfortable talking about girls and women’s bodies, health, and wellness..A 2018 survey conducted found one in seven Canadian girls have missed school because they could not access menstrual products, with 63% of women and girls having regularly or occasionally missed an activity because of their period and concerns about not being able to access menstrual hygiene products or proper facilities..According to Plan International Canada, among Canadians 34% of women and girls have had to regularly or occasionally sacrifice something else within their budget to afford menstrual products..Recently, Shoppers Drug Mart and the Manitoba government also implemented a plan to work together to provide free menstrual products to schools and other agencies to “reduce period poverty.”.READ MORE: Free menstrual pads for Manitoba students to 'reduce period poverty'.Resources for workplaces in Alberta, including materials to run period product donation drives and to sign on as a designated Period Promise employer, are available on local United Way websites.
