Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria Students Distribute Menstrual Products

Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria Students Distribute Menstrual Products

5/20/20—Two students at The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria are making a positive impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicole S. and Mya A. are determined high school juniors who have convinced the New York City Department of Education to distribute menstrual products at school food-distribution sites during the coronavirus crisis.

About a month ago, the girls launched their “Femstrate” campaign, working tirelessly to achieve action and make a change. Logistical hurdles and bureaucratic delays stalled their efforts from getting much traction until local Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan stepped up to assist the girls with moving their project forward.

An inventory of feminine hygiene products is now available at information tables set up at 211 school sites hosting meal hubs around the city.

Nicole and Mya started the “Femstrate” campaign as part of an assignment for a Global Exchange class, which introduced the girls to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The students were asked to come up with a project to improve health and education, reduce inequality, or address climate change. As girls’ school students, Nicole and Mya chose to address period poverty, which is an important issue to them both.

Read the full story as it appeared in The City.