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What is SUPPORT FOR SISTERS？

In recent years, the issue of period poverty has come to light, and conversations about menstruation, once considered taboo, have gradually become public. SUPPORT FOR SISTERS is an initiative that aims to relieve women of the difficulties menstruation can cause and promote awareness regardless of gender. The core members consist of three 4th year students, two of whom studied abroad in Canada, where sanitary products can be found easily and free of charge on campus. After returning to Japan, they questioned the lack of similar preparations in Japan. Wanting to tackle this problem at APU, they decided to start this project. Currently, the group has 20 members, including men, from 7 countries. In order to promote understanding of menstruation to society as a whole, in the future, they plan to do more activities to distribute period products, hold events, and conduct questionnaires. Together with students, the group will think about what issues related to menstruation that various APU students are facing, and what can be done to solve them.

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/supportforsister/

Installing Menstruation Stations

For their first effort, SFS installed Menstruation Stations throughout 10 bathrooms, including women’s and multipurpose bathrooms, on campus. The group wanted to address the fact that there are limited places to buy sanitary products on APU’s wide campus, which can result in emergency situations and possibly affect studies. Moreover, they wanted to help students who can’t buy sanitary products due to economic reasons. The stations include 3 types of menstruation products, even those which are not as common in Japan, so that individuals may find what is comfortable for them. The members handcrafted these stations from eco-friendly cardboard and gave them a compact design so that they can be quickly moved in the event of a disaster. The group hopes that these stations will free as many students as possible from the discomfort of menstruation and allow them to concentrate on their studies.