PERIOD. 2025 | Viega Foundation

PERIOD.:
EDUCATION TO COMBAT PERIOD POVERTY.

USA | STATUS: CURRENT

Without period products, there is no equal participation in society. Currently, nearly one in four US students can’t afford menstrual products and may miss school, work or daily activities. PERIOD. – a US-based youth-led nonprofit organization – aims to defeat “period poverty” through service, education and advocacy.

After the Viega Foundation supported PERIOD. in developing and piloting a menstrual health curriculum designed to break stigma and expand access to education in 2024, this project aims to scale that curriculum nationwide – by reaching at least 100,000 students across the U.S. with the knowledge they deserve.

Left: Community Educator Nicky Dawkins teaches PERIOD.s curriculum on menstrual health and hygiene to students in Florida.

PERIOD.:
EDUCATION TO COMBAT PERIOD POVERTY.

PERIOD. is a youth-powered nonprofit organization advancing menstrual equity through education, advocacy, and access to menstrual products.

Founded by 2 students in the United States in 2014, PERIOD. works nationwide with students, educators, and community partners to normalize conversations around menstruation and ensure that all young people can manage their periods with dignity, knowledge, and confidence.

Left: Community Educator Nicky Dawkins teaches PERIOD.s curriculum on menstrual health and hygiene to students in Florida.

PERIOD.:
EDUCATION TO COMBAT PERIOD POVERTY.

Across the United States, menstrual health education remains limited or absent from many school curricula, and nearly one in four students lacks reliable access to period products. Students in low-income, rural, and multilingual communities are disproportionately affected. Educators and school nurses often cover these gaps out of pocket, and many schools lack both the resources and training to implement menstrual health education effectively.

This is exactly where PERIOD. – with its more than 200 local chapters – steps in: The organization distributes free, reusable menstrual products and provides educational programs for young people who would otherwise have little access to information about menstruation and period poverty.

Left: Community Educator Nicky Dawkins teaches PERIOD.s curriculum on menstrual health and hygiene to students in Florida.

PERIOD.:
EDUCATION TO COMBAT PERIOD POVERTY.

After the successful development of a comprehensive menstrual health curriculum in a previous collaboration, this project expands access to the education material by making it available nationwide.

The materials will be offered through an easy-to-use, ADA-compliant online platform and translated into Spanish, Haitian Creole, and French. Teachers, school nurses, and community partners can download and use the resources free of charge and receive optional training and guidance to support effective implementation. In addition, the project provides reusable and disposable menstrual products to students affected by period poverty free of charge.

Through targeted outreach, the project aims to reach at least 100,000 students across the United States.

Left: Community Educator Nicky Dawkins teaches PERIOD.s curriculum on menstrual health and hygiene to students in Florida.