Chelsea Foundation works with schools on International Day of the Girl

Chelsea Foundation works with schools on International Day of the Girl

It is the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl, which strives to celebrate the power of girls and highlight the barriers they face, the Chelsea Foundation has been working with local schools to raise awareness and tackle the issues around periods.

In recognition of the occasion, a group of female ambassadors from Fulham Cross Girls School have been taking some time to explore period poverty and period dignity while debating the question: ‘Should period products be free’, through workshop sessions with staff from the Foundation.

Period products are a necessity for 50 per cent of the population for 50 per cent of their lives. The ambassadors created an awareness raising presentation which they have delivered to other girls and young women across two local schools on International Day of the Girl.

“Yesterday, our Year 10 Chelsea Ambassadors took part in a very important international call with Organic Mondays, tackling a top-tier issue for women: Period Poverty. It is really exciting to see how their presentations and project will develop.”

Alice Thompson from Fulham Cross Girls School

“I think it was a good discussion talking about periods and what falls under the crisis that women experience on a day-to-day basis. It was also great to hear what Chelsea are going to do to help make it sustainable for women and us students to spread awareness.”

Year 10 student

In preparation for delivery of their own presentation, the group took part in a workshop session with Nancy Saddington, one of the founders of Organic Mondays. Organic Mondays is a company committed to improving menstrual health for all and combine innovation with sustainable principles, to help us care for both our bodies and the planet.

The Foundation is working closely with Organic Mondays to raise awareness on this matter across the club. Organic Mondays’ period products and dispensers have been installed across all areas of the business, launched today with a further roll out completed in advance of Chelsea Women’s home match against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on 20 November.

The next stage of this project will involve exploring periods in sport and the challenges that girls and young women face.

“I am really excited to see how this project grows and I know we have a group of fantastic students who can really take this challenge on and develop the conversation further”

Isaac Keighly, senior digital projects officer for the Chelsea Foundation