Some schools start providing free hygiene products for girls / Article

In Riga State 3rd Gymnasium, about a month ago, boxes of free sanitary napkins were placed in the girls’ facilities, which is shown as a good example by the head of the Women’s Cooperation Network, Ineta Ielīte: “What makes me happy here is that Riga State 3rd Gymnasium has not only these boxes, but also inscriptions , which we ask you to follow – use it if you need it or forget it at home, and throw away the sanitary napkins in a specially designed waste bin. There is also a waste bin there.”

While the state-paid system for providing these goods in schools is still being developed, many schools are not waiting for the legislator and are already implementing such solutions. Maggie and Cynthia, students of the 12th grade of the gymnasium, shared their thoughts about the recently introduced opportunity at the school.

Maggie: “We didn’t know that there would be a project like this and it was a miracle for us. We went into the toilet once and noticed all this and I would say there were positive emotions. I think it’s important for shy girls who won’t be able to go to the nurse and ask if they [mēnešreizes] accidentally starts and you are sitting on the toilet, and you have it now at hand, and you can take it immediately, if anything. It should have been available a long time ago, but it’s cool that it’s available now, so girls can feel safe.”

Cynthia: “I went to ask the nurse once and she gave me the last pack and if another girl came after me, she wouldn’t have anything to give. We’re in 12th grade and we already know when we’re going to get our period and we take those packets from home with us, but I think it’s more important for smaller girls whose cycles are still irregular.”

The girls have almost finished high school and still express the hope that hygiene products will be available in universities as well.

On the other hand, at Jūrmala State Gymnasium, free hygiene packages have been available to schoolgirls for a year and a half. In this school, it was the students themselves who appealed to the school administration to provide such an opportunity in the school, revealed student Laura:

“You go into the toilet, and you just know that it will be there and that you don’t have to ask anyone – a friend or, God forbid, a teacher. You can just go and get it. My classmates and friends also use this opportunity.” Laura said that there are two types of sanitary napkins available in the restrooms, which young women can choose between.

Pilot project in Balvu and Aizkraukle counties

Last year, the citizens’ initiative about free hygiene products for girls in schools reached the Saeima. One of the authors of the initiative, the association “Latvijas Women’s Non-Governmental Organizations Cooperation Network“ manager Ineta Ielīte told that

the organization has also started a pilot project, during which these goods will be provided to educational institutions in Balvu and Aizkraukle counties this year. In total, in 25 schools where about 1500 girls study.

“This pilot project will help us clarify the request for state budget funds and identify problems if its goods are also purchased centrally, organize procurement and ensure supplies to schools. We will also invite schools and girls to share good practices and what they have causes anxiety or creates some barriers,” said Ielīte.

The municipality estimates that the project will not cause major financial problems

The introduction of free hygiene products in schools is currently coordinated by the Ministry of Welfare. Commenting on the progress of the project, Minister of Welfare Uldis Augulis (Union of Greens and Farmers) assessed that it is currently also a matter of prestige for local governments, as the availability of these goods is a self-evident need in schools:

“This project is a horizontal issue. It’s not only the Ministry of Welfare that should look at it and look for funds in the budget, but all of us should be involved – the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the Ministry of Welfare, so that we can provide self-evident things in schools. together, all those possibilities, all the funds, who buys, for example, boxes, or is it the municipality, and who provides some co-financing for everything else.

This is an issue to be discussed in the budget process, but at the moment it looks like it is not so expensive that it cannot be provided by educational institutions and municipalities themselves today.”

A similar opinion was expressed by Sergejs Maksimovs (“Latgale party”), the head of the municipality of Balvu district involved in the pilot project:

“We will implement it in 12 schools at the moment, and the expenses related to this are not such that they will cause big financial problems. We would also like to provide it from state funds if there is such an opportunity, but I think that this project and the idea in general is for us to change society’s views and also take care of the health of expectant mothers.”

The experience of the pilot project is planned to be evaluated at the end of June, and free hygiene products could be available in all schools from January next year.