After 5 years, about 300 schools visited, over 250,000 packs of products donated over 300 period workshops conducted, the Foundation is now expanding its reach to include clinics.
HerFlow Foundation was started in 2016 by Author and Activist Shelly-Ann Weeks to empower women and girls about their reproductive health and rights through education and mentorship. The Foundations flagship project is to End Period Poverty in Jamaica. This project started in public schools targeting the students who were enrolled on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) program which provides students with free lunch.
HerFlow Founder and Executive Director, Shelly-Ann Weeks
Herflow’s Founder, Shelly-Ann Weeks says that she focused on those students because “if they cannot afford lunch, then I assumed that they would not be able to afford menstrual products.”
COVID 19 has forced the foundation to ramp up their efforts because so many women were negatively affected by the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic. The foundation through corporate partnerships with Massy Distribution through its Stayfree and Carefree Breathe brands will be supplying 28 clinics – 2 in each parish – with FREE menstrual products to serve the communities.
Stayfree Brand Manager, Latoya Smith
Stayfree/Carefree Breathe Brand Manager Latoya Smith has supported HerFlow from day one. “We are happy to be able to make such a difference in the lives of Jamaicans and that is why we value this partnership.” Smith said about their partnership with HerFlow to End Period Poverty.
Fontana Pharmacy locations also facilitate donations to help with this effort and donations are coming in from other companies including T. Geddes Grant, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, JMMB, to name a few.
“I am so happy for all the support because we don’t want to just supply these locations as a one-time thing. We want to ensure that the products are available on an ongoing basis for those in need.” A happy Weeks said about the drive.
About 44% of girls are affected by Period Poverty in Jamaican schools (based on study conducted by HerFlow in 2017) and when they are unable to access menstrual products 20% of them stay home and 24% use alternative items when they menstruate. When women and girls are supplied with these essential products, they are able to function with dignity. It means that they are able to take full advantage of the opportunities that are available to them and play an active role in their communities.