University of Bristol student tackling period poverty in Ukraine
The Uni of Bristol student is among volunteers tackling period poverty among Ukrainian refugees.
With the ongoing Russian occupation in Ukraine and thousands Ukrainian women fleeing their homes, period poverty figures in the country have sharply risen.
Volunteers are tirelessly working to tackle the growing problem, among them is Ella Lambert, a 22-year-old languages student from the University of Bristol.
During lockdown, Ella learnt how to sew reusable pads and has since taken things from strength to strength, even as far as founding the non-profit company Pachamama Project.
Now she's managing the supply of thousands of pads to hospitals and refugee camps for Ukrainian women and girls, Ella said: “Talking to the women and hearing their stories first-hand, we know exactly how much people need them.”
Period poverty affects around half a billion people worldwide at least, according to the World Health Organisation.
As the crisis in Ukraine continues a lack of sanitation is taking over.
Ella spoke of what she had seen: "They don't have proper washing facilities, so we are handing out disposable products.”
With the way the crisis in Ukraine is going and the rise in period poverty figures, Miss Lambert says there needs to be a “focus on feminine hygiene alongside General aid charities.”
Ella has distributed 1,000 pads in Warsaw, Poland, this week.
Ella has also distrubuted a further 3000 reusable pads to hospitals in Western Ukraine with the Pads4Refugees charity.
She is now working with organisations to provide more products for those needing it.
“I think it helps that we are a period poverty charity, so I will introduce myself as that.”
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