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HER PERIOD DIGNITY INTERNSHIP
1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
3: Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
5: Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively
6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
1.)Investigation
Having always been passionate about women's rights, I was particularly drawn to the issue of period poverty and the lack of access to menstrual healthcare products that many women face. This led me to research opportunities where I could make a meaningful impact in this area, ultimately leading me to Her Period Dignity's winter internship program. I discovered that period poverty is a significant issue that often goes undiscussed, affecting women's education, work opportunities, and dignity. Through research, I found that many women lack access to basic menstrual products, which impacts their daily lives significantly. The Her Period Dignity internship aligned perfectly with my goals as it offered a structured program to address these issues while allowing me to develop my advocacy and project management skills.
2.)Preperation
The application process for Her Period Dignity internship was quite intensive, requiring both a CV and a 3-5 minute video explaining why I would be a suitable candidate. Creating the video was particularly challenging as I had to clearly articulate my passion for menstrual justice and showcase my potential contribution to the organization. The knowledge that girls from around the world were applying added to my nervousness, but it also pushed me to put my best effort into the application.
The three-week waiting period was filled with anticipation. When I finally received the email, I was thrilled to learn that despite the highly competitive selection process, I was chosen as one of only 18 girls worldwide. This selection made me feel both grateful and validated in my commitment to addressing period poverty.
What made this opportunity even more inspiring was learning that the founder, Pear, was only 19 years old and a Stanford University student. Her achievement at such a young age showed me that age is not a barrier to making meaningful change.
The email I received informing me that I had been selected
3.)Action
ACTION STAGE: During my internship at Her Period Dignity, I worked collaboratively with two other interns from the USA and Thailand in the social media marketing department. Our primary task was managing different social media platforms - I handled Instagram, while my colleagues managed LinkedIn and TikTok, respectively.
To overcome time zone challenges, we established alternate-day sessions on Slack, which became our primary communication tool. Our team maintained a consistent output of three posts weekly, with my Instagram responsibilities including:
Creating day-in-the-life features for interns
Developing educational content about menstrual hygiene
Managing interactive polls and engagement activities
Coordinating brainstorming sessions for content planning
The internship period (January-May) coincided with my IB coursework, requiring careful time management to balance both commitments effectively. Despite never meeting in person, our team maintained high-quality content delivery through regular virtual collaboration and feedback sessions.
4.)Reflection
Looking back at my Her Period Dignity internship experience, I've gained valuable insights about both myself and global advocacy work. What stands out most is how this experience transformed my understanding of creating meaningful impact through digital platforms.
The challenge of discussing menstrual health across different cultural contexts taught me the importance of sensitive and inclusive communication. Each post required careful consideration of cultural nuances and accessibility, pushing me to develop a more nuanced approach to advocacy work.
Working under Pear, a 19-year-old Stanford student, dramatically shifted my perspective on youth leadership. Her ability to manage a global initiative while studying showed me that age isn't a barrier to creating significant change. This realization has deeply influenced my own aspirations and confidence in pursuing ambitious goals.
The experience of balancing IB with the internship, though challenging, revealed my capacity for growth under pressure. I discovered that when passionate about a cause, you find ways to overcome time constraints and other obstacles. This has given me confidence in taking on future challenges that combine academic commitments with advocacy work.
Most importantly, this experience has solidified my commitment to menstrual justice advocacy. Seeing the direct impact of our social media campaigns on raising awareness and breaking stigmas has shown me how digital platforms can be powerful tools for social change.
The following examples showcase some of my contributions to Her Period Dignity's social media presence:
5.)Demonstration
For the final part of my Her Period Dignity internship, I wanted to bring what I learned to my own school community. I organized a session about period poverty and menstrual justice for 30 girls at my school. The most significant part of this event was arranging a video call with Pear, the founder of Her Period Dignity, giving my schoolmates a chance to hear directly from someone who's making real change in menstrual justice globally.
To make the session engaging and comfortable, I planned different activities around the video call. I set up a creative corner where girls could color while reflecting on what they learned, and arranged for cupcakes to keep the atmosphere relaxed and informal. Having Pear speak to us directly made the issue of period poverty feel more real and showed everyone that young people can make a meaningful impact on important issues.
What made this session special was seeing how my schoolmates connected with both the topic and Pear's story. Even though we were discussing serious issues like period poverty, the informal setting helped everyone feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their thoughts. It felt meaningful to take what I'd learned during my internship and use it to raise awareness in my own community, especially with Pear's direct involvement inspiring the girls.
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