Breaking Menstrual Taboos Through Education, Dialogue and Solidarity
Billions of people around the world are menstruating, yet menstruation remains surrounded by silence, stigma and misinformation.
And. PERIOD is an international Erasmus+ project that places menstruation in the public, inclusive space of learning, dialogue and action. The project addresses menstruation as a matter of health, dignity and social justice, while empowering young people and youth workers to challenge taboos and create change in their communities.
What is And. PERIOD?
And. PERIOD uses non-formal education, international mobility and youth participation to:
- promote menstrual education without stigma,
- create safe spaces for open and inclusive conversations,
- equip youth workers and young people with practical educational tools,
- connect learning with real-world solidarity actions.
The project unfolded through a sequence of international mobilities and activities.
Project Journey Across Europe
🇧🇪 Belgium (Antwerp) — Kick-off Meeting
The project officially began in Antwerp, Belgium, where partner organizations met for the kick-off meeting.
This initial phase focused on:
- aligning project goals and values,
- building a shared understanding of menstrual stigma across cultures,
- setting the foundations for educational activities and campaigns.
🇪🇸 Spain (Tenerife) — Training Course for Youth Workers
The first educational phase took place in Tenerife, Spain, through an international training course for youth workers.
Participants explored:
- social and cultural taboos around menstruation,
- feminist and inclusive approaches to menstrual education,
- non-formal learning methods for working with young people (click to download).
Read more about this phase on FemWork or take a look theTenerife chat video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPFCgCrDVrt/
🇭🇷 Croatia (Prvić Island) — Youth Exchange
The project continued in Croatia, on Prvić Island, through a youth exchange focused on:
- body autonomy and menstrual health,
- open dialogue without shame,
- peer-to-peer learning and community building.
This phase strengthened participants’ confidence to talk about menstruation openly and to bring these conversations back to their local communities.
🇵🇱 Poland (Łódź) — Youth Exchange
The final educational phase took place in Łódź, Poland, through a second youth exchange.
Participants shared experiences from their local contexts and developed ideas for future actions and initiatives related to menstrual education. Check out the full album here.
#EcoPeriodRevolution — When Education Becomes Solidarity
In December 2024, And. PERIOD expanded beyond education through the online campaign #EcoPeriodRevolution.
The campaign aimed to collect funds for eco-friendly menstrual products for people affected by war and humanitarian crises in Ukraine and Gaza, highlighting that:
- menstruation does not stop during crises,
- access to menstrual products is a basic human right,
- solidarity must be concrete and actionable.
Together, we have successfully donated 70 dignity kits for people from Ukraine (35) and Gaza (35). Watch the main video of the campaign bellow!
Media coverage:
👉 https://medjimurjepress.net/vijesti-iz-kulture-i-obrazovanja/vijesti-o-udrugama/humanitarno/ecoperiodrevolution-kampanja-za-menstrualno-zdravlje/
👉 https://www.medjimurje.info/ecoperiodrevolution-kampanja-za-menstrualno-zdravlje-i-donaciju-ekoloski-odrzivih-proizvoda-ukrajini-i-gazi/
Humanitarian distribution was supported by ActionAid, an international organization with extensive experience in crisis response.
Project Partners
- Association Strive! (Croatia)
- EducAntwerp (Belgium)
- EuroFRC (Poland)
- Mojo de Caña (Spain)
- Tolerance In You (Ukraine)
The project was funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, with support from JINT, the Belgian National Agency for Erasmus+.
Why And. PERIOD Matters
Menstrual education is essential to challenge period stigma, normalize conversations about menstruation, promote dignity, inclusion and gender equality, ensure menstrual health in humanitarian contexts.
And. PERIOD proves that education can spark dialogue, dialogue can inspire action, and action can cross borders.
The dot in And. PERIOD is not the end.
It is an invitation to continue the conversation.
Author: Mateja Gabor
Participants: Mihaela Martić, Tanja Šalamon, Mateja Gabor, Filip Oroz, Kristijan Gaži, Robert Lucenčić, Tomislav Jurić, Naomi Šestan, Lara Kuš, Iva Tonković, Katarina Stepinac, Mirna Obad, Sebastijan Barlek