Still, it’s a health, dignity and affordability issue for 1.8 billion girls, women, transgender men and nonbinary people who have periods around the world. Menstruation impacts gender equality by blocking access to school and daily activities, and stigma prevents people with periods from living shame-free lives.
In Canada,
At Plan International Canada, our mission is clear: We believe in a just world for all. A world where children's rights are respected and girls are equal.
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Access is a problem, period
Putting period products in reach
The pain of shame
Tackling taboos
A safe space
Awa’s story
Afiya, a girl in rural Uganda, struggles
to find products like pads and tampons. Every month, she has to use whatever material is available – risking her
health and comfort.
Learn more about Period Poverty
Jamie, who lives in Canada, is a single parent struggling to pay their bills.
This month, they have to choose between buying tampons and
buying toothpaste.
Nina, a girl in Ukraine, has struggled to find period products during
the war – shelves sit bare due
to shipping delays and
supply shortages.
We hold workshops for girls and
boys to learn how to make safe, environmentally friendly pads.
Our Champions of Change clubs advocate for free period products
in schools across Canada.
When disasters strike, we distribute hygiene kits with pads and
essential toiletries.
Sometimes it’s not just about finding the “right” product but any product
to stay clean and comfortable.
women who menstruate have been forced to make the decision between purchasing period products and other essentials within
the last year.
Support girls with supplies and education
to safely manage their periods.
Help promote hygiene and shatter stigma by gifting an essential items kit for girls.
Gift girl power to help educate boys and men about girls’ and women’s health.
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When people with periods miss activities because of misconceptions and myths, it lowers their self-esteem.
of 18- to 24-year-old women think the word ‘period’ is considered dirty or inappropriate
in Canadian society.
Red alert
Green solutions
Floods, droughts and rising temperatures threaten and disrupt daily life for all – especially those with period pain and discomfort.
Lack of access to clean water and safe washrooms puts menstruating people‘s
health and dignity at risk.
In Canada, nearly
women who menstruate miss out on school or other activities because
of their period.
17-year-old Jessica, who lives in Ecuador, says, “We are told not to eat certain foods, avoid sports activities and rest. But this limits us during a normal process of our bodies.”
“I did not go back to school for
two months due to fear of being embarrassed by boys,” says
a schoolgirl in Uganda.
“People see [menstruation] sometimes as something dirty, and sometimes girls are mocked,” says Yacira, a 16-year-old girl in Colombia.
We help promote education to remove the myths and shame around periods and prevent teasing and bullying.
Plan International in Uganda educates youth and teaches boys to create period pads, challenging attitudes and raising awareness.
“Since this club started here, [boys] have stopped laughing at us because they know that menstruation is normal,”
says a project participant.
Rising temperatures make girls’
long walks to school unbearable, especially if they have cramps and other period pains. Without clean water, menstruators can’t safely maintain their personal hygiene.
We advocate for education systems to adopt environmentally friendly practices and equip youth with the skills they need to become leaders in climate action.
Agriculture training, water filtration systems, building and tree planting
are just a few examples of activities from our 78-plus global projects!
Clean water, safe toilets and good hygiene knowledge are vital for
everyone who menstruates.
She lives with her family in Burkina Faso.
With support from Plan International, her school has been helping girls manage their periods by creating gender-specific washrooms.
“When I first came to this school, there weren't separate
latrines for boys and girls,” says Awa. “Now [girls] can
stay in school when we have our period.”
"Menstruating individuals presume that washrooms are unclean, which hinders their proper nutrition and hydration," says
Dr. Vijay Wali, a gynecologist.
The public toilets in India are not cleaned regularly, and around half don’t have running water. As a result, menstruating people often feel unsafe using them.
"I have to find a good restaurant to use a clean washroom so I don’t get any infections," says
a woman from Delhi.
Take me to the Toolkit
Agriculture –
more specifically, organic farming –
is one of the most promising businesses of the future.
Pads for periods
Hygiene kit for girls
Girl power
Speak up to normalize periods, advocate for free
period products in your school or workplace or
give Gifts of Hope to support girls‘ rights globally!
For more tips on how to champion period equity,
download the Youth Advocacy Toolkit or explore
Youth Engagement opportunities in Canada.
From June 12 to 16, 2023, join us and U by Kotex®
in our online fundraising tournament, Game for
Girls' Equality: Play for Period Progress,
in support of menstrual equity.
2022
2021
2020
2023
Youth Engagement Hub
Tackling taboos
The pain of shame
Access is a problem, period.
Putting period products in reach
Period Equity: Learn more
Period Equity: Learn more
Together, #LetsTalkPeriods to break the barriers for a more equal future.
Period Poverty
Stigma
Climate
Crisis
Unsanitary Spaces
Jump to
After participating in Plan International’s
Green Skills program, Mety is ready to support
the health of her community – and the planet.
Explore our research about how views toward menstruation shape realities,
here in Canada and around the world.
Scroll down to learn about the different barriers to menstruation and what you can do to help your friends, family and community.
Plan International Canada conducted an online survey to examine attitudes and perceptions related to period product affordability, menstrual health education and the stigma around menstruation. Here’s what we found:
Menstruation is Normal.
Period.
Menstruation in Canada
Research Reports
2023 Menstrual Health Survey
Breaking Barriers
1 in 4
Period Poverty
52%
Stigma
Climate
Crisis
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Use these on all social platforms
to share the message.
See the stickers
Watch how Climate Change Affects Periods in Zimbabwe
Survey
Says
Reports
Taking
Action
Featured
Gifts of Hope
Unsanitary
Spaces
Meet 13-year-old Awa
Agriculture –
more specifically, organic farming – is one
of the most promising businesses of the future.
7 out of 10
Take Action
Take Action
52%
Stigma
Watch how Climate Change Affects Periods in Zimbabwe
Unsanitary
Spaces
Meet 13-year-old Awa
The results of this survey are based on responses from 1,000 women in Canada aged 18+, 667 of whom are not yet menopausal.
This survey was conducted in partnership with Leger in April 2023.
The results of this survey are based on responses from 1,000 women in Canada aged 18+, 667 of whom are not yet menopausal. This survey was conducted in partnership with Leger in April 2023.
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Taking
Action
Unsanitary Spaces
Climate
Crisis
Stigma
Period Poverty
Survey
Says
Reports
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Learn 6 reasons why menstruation keeps girls out of school
Learn 6 reasons why menstruation keeps girls out of school
Learn 6 reasons why menstruation keeps girls out of school
Youth Engagement Hub
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Youth Engagement Hub