As Camosun College gets set to welcome students back for a new school year, free menstrual products will be available in some women’s and men’s washrooms on campus as of next week.
“Students are front of mind because many experience financial hardship,” says librarian Robbyn Lanning, a former Camosun student, who spearheaded the project.
“The menstrual products, however, are for everyone who comes to campus. They’re for anyone who works here, studies here, or visits as a guest.”
The College says that for the 2019/20 academic year, the products will only be available in the first floor washrooms in the Library and Learning Commons on Lansdowne campus.
The initiative is a pilot project that will run until March of 2020. The results will then be analyzed with recommendations for next steps.
“The affordability of menstrual supplies is a pressing issue for many Camosun students,” said CCSS Pride Director, Angela Chou.
“We feel confident that free menstrual supplies will not only be used, but will also help to relieve some of the impact of period poverty that students experience.”
The menstrual products and the installation of Plexiglas dispensers in both washrooms are made possible by a Camosun Innovation and Creativity Grant of $5,000.
The College says that according to a Plan International Canada 2018 report, one-third of Canadian women under the age of 25 have struggled to afford menstrual products and 70% of women have missed school or work because of their periods.
CHEK News
