Project Period
c/o Sowmiya Deventhira-Raja
Last month, Service Learning Fellow Sowmiya Deventhira-Raja distributed menstrual health products to young girls, single mothers, and children of single mothers in Erie, Pennsylvania. “Project Period” was made possible by generous grant support from the Karma for Cara Foundation.
c/o Sowmiya Deventhira-Raja
A recent study by the Free the Tampons Association found that access to period products increases school attendance among high school students by 2.4%. Heeding that call, Sowmiya purchased hundreds of new items, including tampons, pads, flushable wipes, herbal healing patches, and hand sanitizer. Additionally, Sowmiya wrote digestible infographics on topics of menstrual hygiene, distress signals, pain management, and the first period. She placed one of each collected item, alongside a printed copy of her infographic, into storage baskets. With the support of two volunteers, Sowmiya delivered the baskets to Erie DAWNS and Erie Community Shelters, impacting 1,000 local residents. As Sowmiya explained, “I am dedicated to ensuring our future is one where the hygiene needs of every young girl and woman is met and every female feels empowered and in charge of their own menstrual health.”
The project was run under the auspices of the Eloquence Charitable Fund, a philanthropic initiative connecting academic debate to community service. Service Learning Fellows are a group of volunteers selected to serve on the frontlines of the Charitable Fund. With professional support and mentorship, they develop their leadership skills and design, fundraise, and implement service projects of their choice. As a seasoned debater, Sowmiya had researched and debated topics related to menstrual equity extensively. She encountered public misconceptions and observed that period poverty compounds other social inequities, including educational and economic opportunities. Inspired by these discussions, Sowmiya designed Project Period to translate her social advocacy into a tangible act of community betterment.
We are excited to continue supporting our Service Learning Fellows’ projects.
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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is the world’s largest youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy has offered live debate programs for 3,600 students, partnerships with 122 schools and nonprofit organizations, and online debate resources for 16,084 students. It has prepared students across all 50 states and 102 countries for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact. Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
The Eloquence Charitable Fund is a philanthropic initiative connecting academic debate to community service while addressing the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The Fund has removed 500 pounds of trash from the ocean and delivered 30,000 goods to 15,000 individuals in need across all 6 inhabitable continents.
