THE PAD PROJECT
Menstruation is a shameful experience for girls in many parts of the world. When Oakwood School high school English teacher Melissa Berton and her students discovered (through a program called Girls Learn International) that girls in some villages in India have to miss school when they have their periods, they set out to do something about it. They raised money to buy a sanitary pad-making machine for one village and then traveled there to teach local women and girls how to use it—all of which they documented in the short film, Period. End of Sentence.
Through innovation, education, and advocacy, The Pad Project aims to help move towards a world where girls feel empowered in their bodies, achieve economic independence, understand their reproductive and sexual health options, and harness the power to shape their lives.
Nearly
50%
of the world’s population will experience menstruation.
Our mission is to ensure that 100% have the tools to manage it.
The global narrative surrounding menstruation centers on shame and secrecy. Our goal is to rewrite that narrative, transforming it into a source of empowerment and pride.
LAUNCHING A MOVEMENT
With the support from family and friends, we created the documentary PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE. which aims to inspire people everywhere to think globally and recognize the impact young women can have to dispel the stigmas surrounding menstruation. The documentary raises awareness about the power of education and demonstrates the impact of launching a micro-economy.
2019 Academy Award- Winning Short Documentary PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE., screened across the U.S. at film festivals in 2018 winning numerous awards, and premiered on Netflix in February 2019. It follows the women of Kathikhera, a village outside of New Delhi, India, as they install a machine and sell their pads throughout their district. The movement goes beyond the screen as the pad project continues to work to raise funds, awareness, and education throughout the world.
Academy Award Winning Producer
PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE.
A period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education.
“A period should end a sentence , not a girls education” – best quote of the night ✨#OSCARS – Reese Witherspoon
“A movie about that icky thing known as menstruation just won an Academy Award. “A period should end a sentence not a girl’s education.” Amen sister #Oscars – Melissa Silverstein
Our work, in a way, has just begun. We have been humbled and overwhelmed by how many people relate to this issue.
I would hope that people take away an awareness that periods are a source of strength, not a source of shame, that the fight for menstrual justice is a real fight, it’s a worthwhile fight, and that girls and women can do so much to help the world when they are invited to participate as full and equal citizens. On a personal level, if anybody has a passion for an injustice and they want to take action, they can do it.
President/CEO of THE PAD PROJECT
“The subject touched me because I would hate for somebody’s intellectual growth and opportunity to stop because of a natural bodily process. I see how brave my students are in terms of their own advocacy, and I saw that they can be advocates in a way that’s more convincing than adults about this issue.”
FEATURED PRESS
CONNECT
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
SOCIAL
