Rotary Club of Pohnpei and UNICEF partner on the Period Project

Rotary Club of Pohnpei

April 19, 2023

On Friday, April 14, 2023, the Rotary Club of Pohnpei, in partnership with UNICEF Pacific with the help of COM volunteers, distributed nearly 500 sets of reusable menstrual pads (with 500 more sets on the way for a total of 1000 sets) to Pohnpei’s three public high schools in furtherance of their Period Project, a project aimed to improve the issues surrounding menstrual health. The project is partly a response to a survey performed in Micronesia that found that 101 women of the 288 surveyed responded that they missed school because of their lack of access to period products.

The full day of distributions and presentations completed Rotary Club of Pohnpei and UNICEF’s goals to provide one set (6 reusable pads in a set) to every enrolled female in the high school to help improve student attendance and to help female students receive equal access to education. In addition, the organizations aimed to improve menstrual hygiene management, and increase public knowledge and awareness on menstruation cleanliness, and sanitary habits. Presentations were made to Madolenihmw High School, Nanpei Memorial High School, and PICS High School to both girls and boys alike. The presentations and distributions were well attended and well received.

Female students in any of the public high schools in need of hygiene products are encouraged to see their school counselor or nurse for a set.