The Spojená škola in Bardejov has the highest number of girls from the marginalized Roma community in the entire Prešov Self-Governing Region. Many of these girls miss classes due to a lack of sanitary supplies, which negatively impacts their education and future prospects. Menstruation should not be a reason to miss school or, later, work.
The risks include not only poorer academic performance but also health problems caused by using unsuitable materials. Girls and women from disadvantaged backgrounds often have to improvise during menstruation, using fabrics, paper, cotton wool, and other similar materials instead of pads. This increases the risk of infection and other health complications.
More Than Just Help—Education Too
The red menstrual cabinets, made from recycled materials, were produced for the girls by their classmates—boys who learned about "menstrual poverty" for the first time during the process. This initiative is not only about supporting girls but also about breaking taboos and educating boys on the realities of menstruation.
The cabinets are now hanging in the girls’ toilets and are filled with sanitary pads, available whenever needed. As part of this project, a survey is being conducted to gather data on menstrual poverty in the Prešov region. We believe these results will help inform systemic improvements.
We would like to thank the Komunitná nadácia Bardejov (Bardejov Community Foundation) for leading this initiative as part of the Tá, ktorá hovorí (She Who Speaks) project. We also thank the Dôstojná Menštruácia (Dignified Menstruation) project and the Spolka team for their beautiful design and production instructions.
Join the fight against period poverty. You can help women and girls in Slovakia through the Real Gift of Women’s Power. You can also support the distribution of menstrual products worldwide with the Real Gift of Menstrual Pads.
Thank you for your support.
