Phillip Jang, the Co-founder of Red Dot Project Toronto, says that he was inspired to create the charity after finding out some students cannot afford pads and tampons.
Red Dot Project is a Toronto based charity that helps to combat the world wide epidemic of period poverty. In Canada, surveys have shown that upwards of 30% of women and girls have been unable to afford pads or tampons at some point in their lives. Studies have shown that when these products are inaccessible it becomes difficult for women to receive the same quality of education as men. In fact over 50% of women around the world report missing school because of their periods, something their male counter-parts don't have to deal with.
How does the R.D.P work?
Red Dot Project collects donations of money to purchase sanitary products, but they also accept donations of the products themselves. Donations can be made via Amazon, or at drop off boxes are also located at Seneca College campus' in Toronto. They are active on social media, and even have their own podcast: Red Dot Podject.
In different places around the world girls are forced to drop out school because they can't afford to deal with their menstrual cycle every month. Research has found that the average Canadian woman spends approximately $6,000 on pads and tampons in their lives. But with the help of donations, R.D.P is able to create menstrual kits, paper bags that are filled with pads, tampons, snacks, wipes, and disposable heating pads. These supplies help women who couldn't otherwise afford to have these products, and allows them to stay in school/work during their period, helping to break the cycle of poverty.
What are period kits?
As well as being a founder of R.D.P, Jang is also a professor at Seneca college. He says that he worked to ensure that pads and tampons were available for free to Seneca students because he believed that menstruation shouldn't affect his students educations.
"Because Red Dot Project started here at Seneca, with my students, who are Seneca students, I wanted to make sure these products were widely available. And we have created an institution that allows that."
- Phillip Jang, Red Dot Project Founder and Seneca Professor
What does R.D.P do to further the movement to end period poverty?
The organization also provides education on menstrual health and period poverty. As well as having an informative and interactive website, the organization also hosts annual conferences to educate the community. In May of 2019 the conference theme was starting conversations surround periods in the community, which Jang says is the first step in breaking down the stigma surrounding periods, a huge contributor to period poverty.
When asked about next steps, Jang says that he believes Red Dot Project are heading in the right direction. With the continuous donation of funds and supplies Red Dot Project is has been able to host their first conference, get menstrual supplies provided free of charge for Seneca students, and prepare and distribute sixty menstrual kits a month in 2019.
Written by: Devon Clare Banfield
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