Page 4 - UK Magazine March

game-changers

GIVEN
ARE
SOMETIMES
THE YOUTH OF TODAY Young ENOUGH CREDIT WHEN
NOT
STRIVING TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER. YOUNG PEOPLE, AFTER ALL, REPRESENT
THE FUTURE - SO WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME AMAZING YOUNG WOMEN WHO
HAVE ALREADY MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE WORLD, AND WHO WE
BELIEVE WILL BE THE LEADERS OF THE FUTURE.
B y T o l u n a T e a m A u s t r a l i a
a n d N e w Z e a l a n d
N a d y a O k a m o t o

When she was 16 years old, Nadya Okamoto that women often have to use items such as
founded PERIOD, the largest youth-run cardboard and paper grocery bags just to
women's health NGO. Its mission is to provide take care of their periods. PERIOD. has since
menstrual products for those in need, and to provided over 850,000 "period packs" to
advocate for the repeal of the sales tax on those who can't afford menstrual products.
such products. Whilst some countries such as
Australia and India have repealed this so- In 2018 at the age of 20, Okomoto also
titled Period Power: A
called "tampon tax"; and more recently, published a book
Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement,
Scotland has moved towards making these in
products available for free, the United States order to further educate people and remove
still has a long way to go. the stigma around periods.

Okomoto became interested in this Will these products be available for free in
movement when her family experienced the future? Only time will tell, and only with
financial struggle and homelessness. Through the advocacy of people like Nadya
talking to women in homeless shelters, Okamoto.
Okomoto was made aware of the sad reality
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