A distributor of periodical protection at the Lycée de l'Authie, Doullens -
J. Mailly
Three young girls from Authie high school, in Doullens in the Somme, have had periodic protection distributors installed in the establishment.
Interested in the initiative, which reflects a real need of women experiencing menstrual insecurity, Xavier Bertrand visited the site.
The president of the region wants distributors to be installed in all voluntary establishments in Hauts-de-France at the beginning of September 2021.
They are changing the rules in their high school.
Juliette, Rebecca and Jeanne demanded free periodical protection, at least at the level of their establishment.
The three young women succeeded in obtaining the installation of three distributors of free sanitary napkins in their high school in Doullens, in the Somme.
An initiative that challenged Xavier Bertrand, president of Hauts-de-France.
The project of these young girls follows an awareness campaign on the rules they had conducted while they were still in second.
The poster created by Jeanne, representing a napkin stained with blood, had been relegated to a corner of the documentation center by a "shocked" administration.
In the eyes of young girls, the problem of the taboo surrounding menstruation has been added that of menstrual insecurity.
An initiative adopted and even improved
They thus presented to the new principal of their establishment, at the beginning of September, their box project to collect donations of periodic protections.
Two months later, the initiative was adopted.
Better still, it was even reinforced by the rental of three distributors of hygienic protections financed by the school.
“The state allocates a budget to schools for this type of project,” explains Juliette.
We first went through different instances for stocks and the box.
And the school took charge of the distributors.
The three friends went to the end of their process, obtaining a quote from a company that offers “made in France” distributors and organic cotton protection.
For 2,500 euros per year, the school now has 6,000 towels, 2,000 tampons and three dispensers.
Come to see them last week, Xavier Bertrand wishes to extend this initiative to the whole region, by favoring the system of donations by mass distribution.
However, the president of Hauts-de-France is not fundamentally opposed to the purchase of periodic protection.
“We told him that we had to be careful what they were going to choose as products,” explains Juliette.
For our project, for example, we did not go to the big brands as a priority, even if we never refuse their donations.
"
In fact, in the midst of an economic crisis, the need is growing for some young girls.
“Even with the courses partially remotely due to the health situation, the protections go quickly.
About 100 towels were removed in three weeks.
"
Distributors in all high schools for the next school year
On the regional council side, the project is already in the pipeline.
The principals of all the Hauts-de-France high schools were thus asked to estimate the needs in their establishments and to identify the initiatives already in existence.
They have until February 19 to report all of this information.
According to information from
20 Minutes
, Xavier Bertrand wants distributors of free periodic protection to be set up in all high schools in the region for the next school year.
He also invited the three young girls who inspired this idea to get involved in the communication around this project.
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