Empowering Periods, Empowering Lives.
Join us in empowering women, one period at a time.
Empowering Periods, Empowering Lives.
Join us in empowering women, one period at a time.
Who We Are
Our History
Flow Forward is a student-led initiative dedicated to providing period products in the bathrooms of Warren schools with the ultimate goal of empowering women and menstruators globally by advancing menstrual equity. We also aim to break down barriers, challenge stigma, and ensure access to menstrual products and education for all. Join us as we work tirelessly to create a world where menstruation is embraced with dignity and respect, and where every individual has the resources they need to manage their periods safely and confidently.
The issue
Locally:
- Students must ask the often busy school office for period products, leading to embarrassment and discomfort.
- Lack of easy and discreet access to period products.
- Some students cannot afford period products and struggle to manage their periods at school.
- Schools often provide small pads that are inadequate for heavy flow during an 8-hour school day.
Globally:
- The issues lies around the stark reality that many women around the world lack essential menstrual products, resorting to makeshift solutions like newspapers, rags, or even leaves.
- The high cost of period products often forces difficult choices between menstrual hygiene and basic needs like food for families in poverty.
- Menstrual stigma hinders open discussion, even within families In many global regions
Support FlowForward
Take a stand with FlowForward: end period stigma, promote menstrual equity, and ensure access for all.
My Story
MOTIVATION/START:
My first encounter with menstruation happened when I was just an 8-year-old girl in a small village where resources were scarce. I vividly remember my mom handing me a piece of cloth, which I was expected to reuse and wash every month. This made me dread my period, feeling like it put me at a disadvantage compared to others.
Over time, I realized that menstruation shouldn’t be something to hate or fear; it’s a natural part of life that should be managed with dignity and respect. This huge part of my growing up motivated me to start this campaign. I also distinctly remember reading online messages from fellow students sharing their uncomfortable experiences with our school’s current offerings. Having to approach the busy office for products often resulted in negative experiences during such a vulnerable time of the month for many girls. This made me question why we didn’t have a more accessible way to get products at school.
The initiative began to take shape after a particularly embarrassing incident when my pad leaked, and I felt too ashamed to ask the office for help. That’s when I coined the term “Project Period” and started filling up a folder in my notes app with ideas. I saw firsthand the urgent need for these products at our school and felt a deep passion for providing them to our students. The combination of these experiences fueled my determination to launch this initiative.
GOALS:
My biggest goals include getting period products in school bathrooms and increasing awareness of period poverty and the struggles that students and women face. I firmly believe that period poverty is closely linked to food insecurity and financial stability. Just as using the bathroom is a basic need, menstruation is a natural part of life, and I envision a future where period products are as accessible as paper towels and toilet paper.
I am passionate about normalizing conversations around affording period products and addressing period poverty. It’s crucial that everyone feels comfortable asking for help when they need it.
HOW IT WILL WORK AT SCHOOL:
In the event that a student does not have a product, starts their period unexpectedly, or they cannot afford a product, we want them to be able to go to the bathrooms and take them from free dispensers. We are looking to start some type of “Menstrual Monday” where we will give out free menstrual cups to Mott students.
HOW IT WILL WORK ON A GLOBAL LEVEL:
We will organize fundraisers and donation events throughout the year to raise money for countries in need. These funds will be used to provide period products and menstrual health education to underserved communities in countries like Bangladesh, India etc. which struggle the most with menstrual equity issues.
FINAL MESSAGE:
I would want people to know that anyone can help us. It does not matter what your gender identity is and it does not matter what background you come from. We want as many diverse voices as we possibly can to make change happen. For people to help us, I would say to share any advertisements we put out. Just by sharing that we are having a school-run initiative spreads awareness on this project and can be seen by an individual or a group of people that would really benefit from the information we promote and the mission we are trying to act on. People who are interested in helping out on a more intimate level are free to contact me. I am more than happy to welcome new members aboard.
