Over a recent number of months, the Technological University of the Shannon Students’ Union and TUS SU welfare working group have lobbied with the third level institution to secure a funding provision in support of their ending period poverty initiative across all TUS campuses.
With the support of the Vice-President for Student Education and Experience, Frances O’Connell, they have now successfully secured €10,000 towards the initiative.
“On average, women or individuals who menstruate will have 450 periods over their lifetime, which equals 3,500 days spent menstruating. That’s over 10,000 period products in one lifetime! The lack of access to affordable menstrual products poses a significant barrier for young women pursuing their education, hindering their ability to thrive academically and contribute fully to society.
“In a country that prides itself on its progressive values and commitment to equality, it is high time we tackle this injustice head-on, even from a local level. No woman or individual should be forced to choose between their education and their menstrual health. It is not just an issue of hygiene; it is an issue of human rights and gender equality.
“Our welfare working group believe that education is the cornerstone of progress and empowerment. It opens doors, breaks down barriers, and paves the way for a brighter future. Yet, how can we claim to provide equal opportunities for all when the very biological process of being a woman or individual who menstruates becomes an obstacle to education?’’
“Well thankfully with the support from our University, we marked a significant milestone for the community of TUS. Our initiative will we remove that obstacle, we remove that barrier and we now pave way towards a supportive and inclusive environment for both our students and staff by fully funding sanitary products across all our TUS campuses in the Midlands and Midwest.
“This collaborative approach by the Students Union and University is key in providing our students and staff with free accessible sanitary products and ending the stigma and barriers. We can only hope that other Higher Education Institutes follow a similar approach and recognise how fundamental free sanitary products are for the people in our society,” Niall Naughton, President of TUS Students’ Union, stated, upon the securing of this much needed funding.
