Bremen supplies menstrual hygiene products gratis to female students in schools.
Secondary Schools in Bremen to Receive Hygiene Budget for Menstrual Products
Senator Aulepp, the Senator for Children and Education in Bremen, has allocated a hygiene budget to all secondary schools. This budget will enable schools to purchase menstrual products, along with other hygiene items. According to Senator Aulepp, the initiative aims to ensure students can participate in school activities without worrying about access to menstrual products.
In 2023, a pilot project was implemented in eight schools, testing the demand for such products and exploring accessible distribution methods. Based on the success of this pilot, the program has been made permanent, allowing all schools to now distribute menstrual products for free.
School principals have the autonomy to decide how they distribute the hygiene products, whether through the school office, trusted individuals, or vending machines installed in girls' bathrooms. The available products will include pads, tampons, menstrual bags, and diaper pails, as well as vending machines or dispensers. All costs will be covered by the Senator for Children and Education.
Financial transactions are managed through each school's budget, specifically the hygiene budget, with no statistics being kept or evaluations conducted. This is because the costs are also covered by the same budget that funds items such as soap and hand towels.
Regarding funding, similar initiatives in other countries and cities are often funded through government allocations, public health budgets, or partnerships with non-profit organizations. In addition, some companies facilitate corporate partnerships by donating products or providing financial support as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts. However, specific details about the funding for the menstrual product distribution program in Bremen were not available.
For more precise information about the program in Bremen, contacting local educational authorities or health departments directly may provide further details on any existing programs or funding arrangements.
The new hygiene budget for secondary schools in Bremen will not only provide access to menstrual products but also contribute to the promotion of health-and-wellness, specifically women's health. School principals have the flexibility to distribute menstrual products such as pads, tampons, menstrual bags, and diaper pails, ensuring that students have the necessary items for their personal health during school activities, in line with Senator Aulepp's initiative for an inclusive learning environment.
