August 17, 2026
20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPOTLIGHT
Through the Agents of Change program, what was once a concept became a reality. A small group of five students came together to ideas into action, and put a period to period poverty.
While scrolling through my seemingly endless Facebook feed some years ago, I came across a video that stopped me in my tracks. The two-minute video displayed the reality of how women experiencing homelessness in Toronto managed their menstrual cycles. I was shocked to discover that items like socks, one-ply toilet paper, and even pieces of clothing were being used in place of menstrual products when women lacked access to them.
At that moment, the idea for Period 2 Period Poverty (P2P) was born: a student-led initiative aiming to bring awareness to period poverty, distribute menstrual products to individuals experiencing homelessness, and advocate for free menstrual products for all.
Our collection drive gathered more than 100 menstrual products, including disposable pads, tampons, reusable pads, and menstrual cups, as well as gift cards for purchasing additional products.
With awareness at the heart of our mission, we hosted an educational session with over 10 women and built an Instagram community of over 200 followers to promote menstrual health education, reduce stigma, and raise awareness about period poverty.
The platform also generated interest in potential collaborations, both locally and internationally, reinforcing for our team that period poverty extends beyond our immediate community and remains a global health issue.
Although P2P's first chapter was brief and unfolded amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the support of the Faculty of Health, we were able to turn a small idea into meaningful action. Today, we hope to revitalize P2P, build new partnerships, and expand its impact.
As the Faculty celebrates 20 years, I reflect with gratitude on how its support empowered students like us to transform our ideas into initiatives that sparked conversations, created connections, and positively impacted our community.
