Support action for BruZelle vzw

Last year in December, we raised money for Wolk in my head, an organization that raises awareness about perinatal depression. This year, we are opting for a permanent action and, through our collection of small-frills discounts and our pre-loved collection, we are raising money for BruZelle, a Belgian non-profit organization that raises awareness around and fights against menstrual vulnerability (also known as period poverty). The organization primarily aims to respond to immediate needs by collecting and distributing sanitary pads to people with periods who live in precarious conditions.

What is period poverty?

Hygienic products such as sanitary pads and tampons are too great an expense for many people to carry. Worldwide, it causes girls to stay home from school, women to cut themselves off from work or social activities and generates a lot of shame. The mental impact of not being able to buy hygienic products is great. The figures in Flanders are also not very encouraging, as a recent survey by Caritas showed.

Below is a TED talk by British activist and founder of Free Periods, Amika George (video in English).

How it began

The two founders of the BruZelle, Veronica and Valérie, noticed that homeless centers and CPASs were not committed to a structural supply of hygiene products. The ladies initially appealed to their surroundings but later invented the system of collection boxes, which they distributed in schools, cultural centers, stores and pharmacies. In these, people could then deposit unused, pre-packaged sanitary napkins. They also began, with volunteers, sewing bags to bundle sanitary napkins in.

Of course, this is only a temporary solution to a permanent problem. This is why the BruZelle team also actively participates in seminars, debates, conferences, festivals, studies and interviews. They make the issue of menstrual vulnerability more widely known and they exchange ideas and experiences to come up with concrete solutions. BruZelle thus needs a budget, both for its operation and for when the demand for menstrual products exceeds the supply.

Distribution

BruZelle collaborates with partners in the field such as PCSWs, CAWs, day and night shelters for homeless women, food banks, motherhouses, university social grocers and NGOs working in refugee camps and squats.

In addition, BruZelle's team also takes to the streets themselves to hand out the sanitary napkins to persons they meet, and the bags can also be picked up at BruZelle's Brussels office.

Our part in this

50% of the full retail price of items in the"small mistakes discount" and"pre-loved collection" collections will go to BruZelle.

How can you still help

• In a collection point near you (the largest supply is in the region around Brussels) you can donate the following:
• prepackaged sanitary napkins
• clean fabric from which pouches are made
• ready-made sachets
• Transform your work/sports club/event into a collection point.
• Make a donation.

More info on how they work can be found on BruZelle's website.
More info on this topic can also be found in this blog post from research project Isala.