Catalyst of Change
Supporting a vibrant civil society in Europe
Iele-Sânziene Association
ielesanziene.orgIele-Sânziene is a feminist organisation that addresses gaps in menstrual health and sexual education in Romania. It works to reduce period poverty and menstrual stigma through workshops with young people and advocacy for universal access to menstrual products. The organisation aims to ensure teenagers have information and services to support their health and reproductive rights. Iele-Sânziene collaborates with schools and local authorities to create mechanisms that provide access to safe and accessible menstrual products.
About the Project
Free Menstrual Products: Inclusive Schools
The project aimed to tackle period poverty in Romania, where limited access to menstrual products and information, along with the lack of menstrual equity policies, affects gender equality and public health. The organisation worked to normalise menstruation in schools, support students’ well-being and reduce absences. It also raised awareness of a stalled law that could make free menstrual products available in schools. The team collected and published data, gathered youth responses, organised Menstrual Hygiene Day and released a video campaign. One key achievement was the Program Guide for Free Menstrual Products in Schools, downloaded 132 times.
Communication Outputs
Project Communications
Lele-Sânziene carried out extensive project communications through social media posts, video campaigns and its own guides. As part of Menstrual Hygiene Day, the organisation launched the exhibition Menstruation at School, which features ten posters with stories and data from students about managing menstruation at school. Pictures from the event can be found here.
Funded by the European Union
name
Catalyst of Change: Protecting the Union values by supporting a resilient, engaged and vocal civil society for the promotion of women’s rights, environmental justice and anti-corruption
partner
European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL)
duration
1 January 2023- 31 December 2026
budget
3,411.982 EUR
