through
curiosity
through
curiosity
The Documentary Period. End of Sentence.
How can I host a screening of the film?
You can find all the information you’ll need to host a screening on our “Host a Screening” webpage.
What has the response been around the world after the Oscar win?
We are thrilled that the documentary helped spark a conversation about menstrual equity, and the response to the Oscar win has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve received expressions of solidarity and support from people sharing their own stories about triumphing over menstrual stigma and from people who want to get involved in menstrual advocacy. Additionally, we’ve had requests for us to help install pad machines in areas all over the world.
How have the attitudes around menstruation changed in the village of Kathikhera?
Overall, the attitudes have changed drastically with regard to the acceptance of menstruation as a topic and with the establishment and proper operation of the pad machine, including the sale and purchase of low cost pads in the village. There has been an increase in the number of women using pads in the village, specifically including adolescent girls and middle-aged women. There has also been an increase in awareness and acceptance among the men in the village about menstruation and other topics and discussions relevant to women’s sexual and reproductive health.
Why did your team choose the Hapur district initially?
Girls Learn International, the high school club that inspired Oakwood students to start The Pad Project, connected our chapter to a grassroots NGO, Action India, located in Delhi, India. This activist group became our means of communication to the women and girls of the village of Kathikhera, in the Hapur district of India. Many of the women in this village had missed school, dropped out entirely, or had already gotten pregnant at a young age. Action India became our direct liaison with the community; when they expressed a desire for a machine to participate in our documentary, we worked with them to install it in a way that would be feasible and sustainable for Kathikhera.
What We Do
When I donate, where will my money go? Can I earmark it for a specific purpose?
We are a nonprofit organization, so 100% of your donation will be used to meet basic overhead costs, to finance new pad machine initiatives, to increase menstrual health awareness, and to continue our work to eradicate menstrual stigma in the U.S. and abroad. In 2019, our expenses were as follows.
- Programs – 70%
- Fundraising – 25%
- Admin – 5%
Please see Our Financials to learn more.
Now you can donate towards specific portions of our advocacy work! Donate to our General Fund to help us partner with grassroots organizations and NGOs to place pad machines in communities around the world, implement reusable cloth pad-making programs, and run menstrual hygiene management workshops.
Donate to our COVID-19 Response Fund to help us support our NGO partners in India and maintain the wages of the women who work on the pad machines during the pandemic.
Donate to our PADS4ALL Campaign to help us raise awareness about period poverty in the U.S. and provide funds to homeless shelters and grassroots NGOs in the U.S. that are in need of bulk menstrual supplies.
To learn more, visit our Donate page.
How many pad machines have you installed and where are they located? Which regions are you looking to place pad machines next?
We at The Pad Project are grateful for our partners on the ground who help monitor and ensure the success of each program. Thanks to your contributions, The Pad Project has placed six pad machines in different regions in India and implemented reusable cloth pad-making programs in Ghana, Guatemala, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. The Pad Project is combating period poverty in the U.S. by hosting menstrual hygiene donation drives in the greater Los Angeles area and providing grassroots organizations across the country with microgrants to purchase bulk menstrual supplies. With your help, in 2021 we hope to place machines in India, Kenya, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Use the links below to learn more about our partnerships!
What type of pad machine do you use?
Different types of machines may be used for different communities, depending on their needs. In general, the pad machine can be manual, semi-automated, and automated.
What does it cost to purchase a pad machine + materials?
The cost of each pad machine varies depending on the needs of the community. Most of the low cost pad machine manufacturers are based in India, so the overall cost to put a pad machine there does not include any transportation costs like shipping or air freight charges. For machines that need to be transported, the costs can vary depending on specific port of entry fees. Broadly speaking, the pad machine costs can be split into 3 categories: the pad machine, the raw materials, and training and operations. This cost does not include the location where the machine is installed or the everyday running cost of electricity and wages paid to workers operating the machine. With that being said, the estimated cost for each type of pad machine is shown below.
Reusable Cloth Pad-Making Program
These programs involve manufacturing and distributing Dignity Kits to girls and women in the community. Each Dignity Kit contains washable pads, liners, underwear, hand towels, and soap. Please note the cost of pad distribution is not included in the following estimates. Distribution drives are set up monthly in the community.
- India-Based Program
- Workers Employed: 5 to 6
- People Served: 300 menstruators for 1 year
- Manufacturing Cost: $10 USD per Dignity Kit
- Grand Total: $7,000 USD
2. Non-India-Based Program (Guatemala, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda)
- Workers Employed: 5 to 6
- People Served: 250 menstruators for 1 year
- Manufacturing Cost: $12 to $14 USD per Dignity Kit
- Grand Total: $7,500 USD
Pad Machines
These programs involve the manufacture and sale/distribution of disposable pads to girls and women in the community. Please note that the cost of international taxes, customs duty on raw materials, import duty, and transportation from vendor location to the port of entry is not included in the following estimates.
- Manual Pad Machines (India, Nepal)
- Workers Employed: 5 to 6
- Pads Produced: 100,000 pads per year
- People Served: 500 to 800 menstruators for 1 year
- Pad Machine, Accessories, and Toolkit: $5,500 USD
- 1 Year Raw Materials: $4,000 USD
- Training and Operations: $2,500
- Grand Total: $12,000 USD (travel costs, insurance, taxes, etc. not included)
2. Manual Pad Machines (Kenya)
- Workers Employed: 5 to 6
- Pads Produced: 260,000 pads per year
- People Served: 500 to 800 menstruators for 1 year
- Pad Machine, Accessories, and Toolkit: $6,500 USD
- 1 Year Raw Materials: $11,500 USD
- Training and Operations: $2,000 USD
- Vendor Consultation Fees: $2,000 USD
- Grand Total: $22,000 USD (travel costs, insurance, taxes, etc. not included)
3. Semi-Automated Pad Machines (India and Sri Lanka)
- Workers Employed: 9 to 10
- Pads Produced: 50,000 pads per month (600,000 pads per year)
- People Served: 5,000 menstruators
- Pad Machine, Accessories, and Toolkit: $18,500 USD
- Raw Materials: $7,500 USD for 200,000 pads
- Training and Operations: $3,500 USD
- Grand Total: $29,500 USD (travel costs, insurance, taxes, etc. not included)
4. Automated Pad Machines
- Pads Produced: 80,000 to 100,000 pads per month (1 million pads per year)
- People Served: 8,000 to 10,000 menstruators per month
- Pad Machine, Accessories, and Toolkit: $30,000 USD
- Raw Materials: $10,000 USD for 400,000 pads
- Training and Operations $3,500 USD
- Grand Total: $43,500 USD (travel costs, taxes, insurance etc. not included)
How many people are employed on the machine?
The number of employees varies between the manual, semi-automated, and automated pad machines. Manual pad machines employ 5 workers and 1 supervisor. Semi-automated pad machines employ 9 workers and 1 supervisor. Additional staff can be brought on to help market, sell, and distribute the pads when needed.
What type of materials do you use with the machine?
The low cost pad machines use the following raw materials.
- Top Sheet
- Back Sheet
- Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP)
- Airlaid Paper
- Transfer Adhesive Tape (TAT)
The top sheet and the back sheet could be made with rolled-up sheets or by using a pulverizer machine to make wood pulp.
How much does it cost to support a menstrual health education seminar?
A 2-day seminar on menstrual hygiene and women’s sexual and reproductive health serving a group of 40 to 50 adolescent girls and women in India would cost between $1500 and $3000 depending upon the following:
- The location of the seminar. Is it in a city, peri-urban, or rural location? Is it in a seminar hall, an open location, or a dwelling?
- Travel and lodging cost of trainers
- Cost of stay and food/refreshments
- Cost of stationary and other accessories
- Cost of free pad samples for distribution among participants
How to Get Involved
How can I get involved?
There are many ways to get involved with The Pad Project.
In fact, we have a “take action” section of our website just for that purpose. Screen the film in your community! Period. End of Sentence. is available on Netflix, and our screening guidelines can be found here. Host a fundraiser in your community to support The Pad Project! To make it easier for you, we created a step-by-step fundraising guide, which you can find here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on all of our projects. If you are able to, one of the most impactful ways you can get involved at this stage is to donate!
Fight for menstrual equity in your community! Find out what the laws are with regards to access and taxation of menstrual hygiene products in your state. Advocate for changes in the law through writing and signing petitions, writing to lawmakers, attending rallies, and educating your community.
Can I donate from another country outside the U.S.?
Yes! International donations can be made via PayPal
Can I volunteer and visit the project site?
We would love to have as many hands on deck to help us with our project as possible. However, we are still a growing organization and don’t currently have the capacity to launch a volunteer or internship program. However, we are working hard to develop more ways for our supporters to get involved…stay tuned!
I want to help end period poverty, how can I do that?
If you want to make a difference in your own community, the best way to start is by calling your local shelters and asking if they need any menstrual products. If they say yes, host a pad drive! Gather pads from your community and bring them to organizations in need. There are so many ways to help out, but the first step is to look around you and see where there could be a need for menstrual products or education. You should also let your elected officials know how you feel about the tampon tax, so we can drive real change!
I want a pad machine for my village/community! How can I get one?
The Pad Project partners with local organizations and grassroots NGOs to install pad machines, implement reusable cloth pad-making programs, and run MHM workshops. We work with our partners to tailor each program to the specific menstrual health needs of each community, and it is our partners who implement these programs on the ground. Our goal is to move toward a model where we can forge sustainable partnerships with NGOs in communities across the world who want their own pad manufacturing machines. Because we are committed to implementing projects in the most sustainable manner possible, please know that we are not taking on new partners at this time. If your organization is interested in pursuing a formal partnership with The Pad Project at some point in the future, email us at info@thepadproject.org.
The Pad Project Ambassador Program
What is the ambassador program?
The Pad Project’s Ambassador Program is designed to unite a community of passionate individuals from around the world who are ready to break the stigma surrounding menstruation and turn their passion for equity into action. The Ambassador Program fosters a way for new and life-long menstrual equity advocates to come together to learn about period poverty, develop leadership skills, and form new friendships.
Who can be an ambassador?
The Ambassador Program is open to anyone 12 years or older! We encourage domestic and international applicants to apply, but you will need access to WiFi to participate in Zoom meetings.
What is the length of the ambassador program?
The 2021-2022 Ambassador Program will run from August 16th, 2021 to May 31st, 2022.
What is the time commitment for the ambassador program?
Ambassadors will have a mandatory virtual orientation and training session, as well as three mandatory virtual meetings throughout the year to discuss ongoing projects. Beyond these meetings, ambassadors will be able to meet with their advisors and fellow ambassadors as frequently as they want.
More Information about Menstruation
Why do the pad machines create disposable pads? Why not use a more environmentally friendly option?
While menstrual cups and reusable pads are great for many people, not all the areas that we work with have access to clean water — meaning that they might have trouble sterilizing the cups and washing the pads. In some communities, pads are also a more welcome and acceptable form of menstrual health product than cups or tampons. In some countries, the use of cups or tampons is often seen as a cultural taboo in and of itself. Using pads, however, works with the community’s existing cultural scripts and is often the most familiar, comfortable, and preferable option for women who want the machines. If they are comfortable and confident, they are more likely to advocate for themselves, excel in school, and start conversations about menstruation that may mitigate societal stigma. In addition, we prefer installing pad machines because they jumpstart a micro-economy for the women that we work with.
Is there a certain way most menstruators talk about their periods? Do they seem to talk about their period as a bad thing that they are embarrassed about? If they are, where do you think the stigmas come from?
We, as an organization, cannot make any verifiable claims about “most menstruators” in the world. However, our experiences working in the U.S. and around the world for The Pad Project affirm that many menstruators view their periods as a source of shame and secrecy. Stigmatization can stem from cultural or religious systems that associate menstruation with being unclean or impure. As we show in Period. End of Sentence., many of the young women we interacted with in Kathikhera were embarrassed or shy to talk about their periods, or expressed that they had been taught to keep menstruation hidden. Many of the men and boys in the community were unaware of what menstruation was or how women managed it — some referred to it as a “disease.” In our organizational opinion (which is in line with existing literature on menstrual health perception and management globally), stigma likely results from a combination of disinformation or lack of awareness, cultural and religious beliefs, popular media representations that portray menstruation as dirty or shameful, and patriarchal social norms.
How do menstruators’ periods affect their education? Do menstruators who experience “bad periods” or who feel ashamed of their period miss school or fall short in their academics?
There is a large and growing body of research suggesting that lack of access to menstrual health products and education affects school attendance, concentration, and levels of comfort and confidence at school (see here, here,and here for just a few). While it was originally believed that, in low-income countries, menstruation often keeps menstruators out of school entirely, new research suggests otherwise. Although most menstruators do not drop out of school or miss school when they have their periods, lack of access to menstrual health products and clean, private, reliable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure can result in significant embarrassment and discomfort that makes it harder for menstruators to concentrate in and enjoy school. See the linked research papers for more specific findings on the direct impact of menstruation on educational outcomes.
Do most schools have adequate options for menstrual hygiene? If not, why? How could this be fixed?
Again, we cannot speak for “most” schools. However, lack of clean, safe, and hygienic WASH facilities in schools is a pervasive problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. UNICEF has some good resources on this. In many of the studies linked in the previous answer, you’ll see that menstruators cite this as a significant issue in their lives. Many schools do not have reliable plumbing and toilets, adequate means of disposal for used pads/tampons/cups, or private bathrooms where menstruators can feel safe managing their periods. Governments, NGOs like The Pad Project, and community stakeholders need to work together to direct sufficient resources to schools so that they can build up the WASH infrastructure that menstruators need to manage their periods safely and comfortably.
Why do you use the term “menstruators?”
Not all women menstruate, and not all menstruators are women. At The Pad Project, we are dedicated to supporting all menstruators, and we want to make sure our fight for menstrual equity is gender inclusive. We use the term “menstruators” to refer to all people who experience menstruation, including cisgender, transgender, nonbinary, and genderfluid individuals. However, we as an organization are still learning and growing, and we welcome all feedback. If you see a way for us to be more inclusive, let us know at info@thepadproject.org!