Local NGO Go With The Flow has a plan to eradicate period poverty in Singapore

Period poverty may not be a term that you’re too familiar with, but it’s a very real issue that affects households in Singapore. In any place that poverty exists — like Singapore — period poverty exists as well. Basically, it’s defined as the lack of access to menstrual products, mainly due to financial constraints, as well as the lack of education on menstruation.

Who does period poverty affect?

Period poverty is mainly experienced by individuals who hail from low-income backgrounds although this problem also extends to individuals from marginalised communities, such as migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community.

Be it financial or educational, there is a barrier for these people to access menstrual products. Some have to forgo purchasing other necessities in order to buy menstrual products. Others, unable to afford actual menstrual products, turn to makeshift ‘products’ such as rags or toilet paper instead.

This is especially true for households with multiple menstruators or individuals with menstrual disorders which cause them to bleed more than the average person does. Unsanitary and not as effective, the use of these ‘products’ may lead to infections and health complications which will cause an even bigger financial burden.

And it’s not as easy for these affected individuals to reach out for help, no thanks to the stigma associated with periods. (Ever been hushed by an elder when you brought up your period in front of a man? Yep.)

This, combined with inadequate menstrual education, makes it difficult for them to voice their issues and get help with menstrual education and access to menstrual products. As menstrual products are very much a necessity, this can cause the individual great physical and mental harm.

This is where Go With The Flow steps in.

What does Go With The Flow do?

The local non-profit, made up of a female team of six — sisters Evonne and Elisa Chng, Kelly Hui, Kristina Simundo, Shakthi Mohan and Ranza Koay, helps menstruators in need access safe and hygienic menstrual products for as long as they need them. Evonne and Elisa work full-time, while Kelly, Kristina, Shakthi and Ranza are university students.

The idea for GWTF came about when Evonne, a regular volunteer with a community service food distribution, noticed something missing from the list of products that were distributed to households. They were given toiletries and food, but not menstrual pads. This was despite the fact that pretty much every household that had a menstruator would require pads. This gave Evonne an idea, which she pitched to the rest. It resonated with the other five, and just like that, GWTF was born.

Ensuring menstruators have access to needy products anytime they need them may seem like a lofty aspiration, but GWTF has it down pat, one donation at a time.

“We achieve this through a monthly cycle of collecting donations from the public, before packing them and distributing them to different family centres and social services, or even individual beneficiaries who have reached out to us through our website,” they say.

GWTF sorts the donations into care packages which consist of day pads, night pads and panty liners. Then, they work with social agencies, family service centres and community centres that help distribute the care packages to their pool of beneficiaries.

But, understanding that this may inadvertently exclude individuals who don’t qualify for help from these organisations, the GWTF team has implemented a barrier-free system in which anyone can become a beneficiary without needing to prove their ‘poorness’, which can be un-dignifying.

GWTF’s scope of work isn’t just limited to enhancing access to menstrual products — they’re seeking to break the senseless stigma surrounding menstruation too. 

Destigmatizing periods

GWTF makes it a point to speak up about periods in both online and educational spaces to raise awareness among Singaporeans that periods are not unhygienic or ‘dirty’. They also encourage menstruators to speak up if they need menstrual products.

Their Instagram page is a treasure trove of resources that are educational and informational. It also makes one message clear: that a natural, biological process is not shameful, so we can unlearn the shame and stigma associated with periods.

Their advocacy pillar plays a vital role in raising awareness about period poverty, working with local schools to host mini GWTF donation drives, which in turn sparks conversations among the youth. Schools that have been involved in the initiative include Methodist Girls’ School and Tanjong Katong Girls’ School.

Besides social media, GWTF hopes that the prominent location of their donation boxes will garner attention. “We also trust that our donation drives help to increase the awareness and visibility of the issue. When a passerby sees our donation box, they may be curious and find out more about the importance of [eliminating] period poverty,” the GWTF team explains.

How can I get involved?

GWTF’s main way of ensuring their beneficiaries have continual access to menstrual products is through donations. Should you wish to donate a pack of pads, liners or reusable products, you can find a list of their current donation box locations here. Or if you have some time to spare, volunteer with them.

Alternatively, you can also support GWTF financially by making a PayNow donation to UEN: T22SS0073C or purchasing their pretty stickers here!