District 196 Foundation Funds Student-Led Effort to Eliminate Period Poverty as a Barrier to Learning

With a mission to eliminate barriers to learning, the District 196 Foundation works to ensure students have consistent access to food, provides books to keep students reading during the summer and funds the restoration of used instruments so more students can participate in band. During the pandemic, the Foundation added Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and tech devices as funding priorities.

And then an entirely new opportunity surfaced when an enterprising group of students from Eagan High School set a goal to “end period poverty” as part of a class project. Students Katherine Randall, Tori Robarge, Sabriya Siddiqui, Grace-Divine Boutouli, Evelyn Gore, Heden Abdulahi, Claudia Liverseed, and Olivia Noll developed a business case, and presented it via Zoom to the District 196 Foundation board of directors. As a result, these students earned the district a $10,000 donation to cover the cost of menstrual products for bathrooms in all schools.

According to the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), period poverty refers to the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and education, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management. AMWA suggests advocacy efforts can greatly improve access to hygiene facilities and products, reduce stigma and shame, and encourage education about menstruation. 

“Period poverty was not something that was at the top of our agenda,” admitted Foundation chair Brian Steeves. “But when these engaged students shared their stories and proposal with us, we knew we had to find a way to support this effort.”

Before the Foundation’s contribution, school nurses throughout the district were charging students a small fee for pads and tampons because the nurses were paying for them out of their own pocket. And students who didn’t go to the nurse were missing class, sitting in bathroom stalls, calling friends and parents desperately seeking supplies. The lack of accessible menstrual products was clearly presenting a barrier to learning until this group of students – in partnership with Eagan High School’s Women’s Empowerment Club – elevated the issue. 

In addition to their proposal for funding, the students’ class project focused on menstrual inequity included watching the documentary “Period: End of Sentence” and volunteering with Days for Girls to help make reusable pads for girls in developing countries. 

While school advisors assisted in the effort, the students experienced and observed the problem, created the plan to address it and helped build momentum with other students and administrators. 

“Working on this project helped teach me the power that I have to make a difference, and it showed me the importance of the student voice and initiative in creating a community that is inclusive for all,” said student Claudia Liverseed after learning about the Foundation’s commitment to fund menstrual supplies.