Various menstrual products
News
27.06.2025 Christin Müller 168

pme donates: Periodensystem e.V.

Maxi Bethge-Lewandoski has a vision: to end period poverty in Germany and promote education around the topic of menstruation. As the founder of the voluntary association Periodensystem e.V., she is committed to giving the topic of menstruation the attention it deserves. In this interview, Maxi gives us an insight into her inspiring work and the challenges involved. 

"The topic of menstruation and period poverty needs more social awareness and attention."

Who is behind the periodic table?

Maxi : We are an association founded and run by volunteers. Each and every one of us pursues the mission of creating more equality and providing low-threshold help and education on period poverty and menstruation. 

Our members have been collecting donations since 2016 to provide those in need with period and hygiene products. We also work with artists, gynecologists, schools and companies to raise awareness. The topic of menstruation and period poverty needs more social awareness and attention.

What does your daily work look like?

Maxi: We distribute period and hygiene items to emergency shelters, schools, organizations and mother and child homes, among others. We are also in close contact with homeless shelters and social institutions. This means we always know what is needed when and can guarantee that the donations arrive where they are needed. We supply emergency shelters such as those run by GEBEWO, Berliner Stadtmission, SKF and DRK directly with menstrual and hygiene products via our crowdfunding page on betterplace.org

Through our online community on Instagram and Facebook, we educate people about period poverty and the topics of menstruation, equality and more in general. 

In regular online live sessions, meet-ups and interviews, our team and community members provide information on topics such as intersexuality, pregnancy, homelessness and sexuality. We also offer workshops for companies, schools and events to raise awareness of the topic among as many social groups as possible.

We make the topic visible on Instagram and cooperate with companies to get it out of the taboo zone.


Access to menstrual products is not a matter of course.

How did you come up with the idea of campaigning for period education?

Maxi : I have always thought about what actually happens to menstruating women when they are in need. People think about food, clothes and sleeping bags first, but not about periods. 

Then I heard about projects in the UK and the USA and created a crowdfunding page on Betterplace.org. I got GEBEWO on board as a partner to buy products for their emergency shelter and that's how Periodensystem came about.

What do you think a fair world looks like when it comes to dealing with menstruation - and what do you think still needs to change to get there?

Maxi: We have five demands: more education through better education policy in schools and drop-in centers, more public toilets as a shelter for menstruating women, better social policy regarding rent policy and wage levels, better health policy with education and research into diseases, and free items in public buildings - like in Scotland.

What challenges do you face most often in your day-to-day work - be it in terms of organization, financing or dealing with social taboos?

Maxi: In the social sector, our work is widely respected and recognized. We are particularly well received in communities that are committed to equality and social justice. But as soon as we move into the corporate sector, we often encounter challenges. Here, the issue is often seen as a "nice to have" - a side issue that doesn't always get the attention it deserves. 

Especially in the current political and economic situation, there is a risk that topics such as menstruation and sex education will once again disappear from the focus of public perception.
At the same time, we are seeing an increasing demand for sustainable period products, which is pleasing, but also places a heavy burden on our financial and logistical capacities.

How do people react when they hear about your work for the first time?

Maxi: We often hear: "That's right, I haven't even thought about that yet."


According to Plan International menstruating people spend on average between 550 and 650 euros on period products per year.

Are there any stories or encounters that have particularly touched you?

Maxi: There are many touching stories, but the words of thanks from people we have been able to help directly are particularly motivating.

You have received a donation of 10,000 euros from pme. What projects have you already been able to implement or would you like to implement with it?

Maxi: The generous donation of 10,000 euros helps us enormously to drive our work forward and distribute sustainable period products exactly where they are most urgently needed. With these funds, we can not only cover acute needs, but also implement projects aimed at long-term education and awareness-raising.

When people want to support you: What helps you most at the moment - apart from financial donations?

Maxi: Please invite us to your companies so that we can talk about this important topic there. Such conversations help to raise awareness of sustainable menstrual products and remove taboos from the topic in professional environments.

You can also support us by sharing our Instagram profile. If you have school-age children, we would be very happy if you could promote the topic in your children's schools. "Ella's World" is a fantastic guide to providing age-appropriate and informal education about menstruation for 9-14 year olds.

Social commitment of the pme Familienservice

The "pme donates" fundraising campaign has been running for four years, giving pme team members the opportunity to nominate charitable organizations in the areas of international development aid, social work, climate and animal protection and culture for a donation, which they actively support. All team members then vote for the organizations they want to support. The organizations with the most votes receive a donation from pme Familienservice. In 2024, six national and international organizations received a total of 50,000 euros in donations.

zero Violence at home: what employers can do

Woman who experiences violence at home in a counseling interview
Psyche
09.12.2022 Josephin Hartmann 15448

Violence at home: How employers can help

For those who experience domestic violence, the workplace often becomes a protected space. Managers can support victims: with understanding, a willingness to talk and the provision of help.   

It is often underestimated: When employees call in sick to work, the reason may be that they have been subjected to psychological, physical or sexual violence at home. Companies can provide support in this delicate situation. However, it is important to handle the situation sensitively and offer the right support.

pme life situation coach Jutta Dreyer gives tips on how you as an employer and manager can support affected employees.

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Domestic violence: tips on how managers can support affected employees 

1. watch out for signs: Withdrawal, depressed, anxious  

Domestic violence is not a private matter, it concerns us all. Most managers share this view. Pme life situation coach Jutta Dreyer often sees managers calling her because they are worried about their employees. When they use our advice, they already have the impression that the situation at home is very difficult and that violence could be involved.  

It is often difficult to recognize whether employees are affected by domestic violence, as it is a shameful topic. Those affected try to hide it for as long as possible. They are ashamed and often feel guilty for their situation.  

Therefore, managers can only look out for small signs that violence is taking place at home.  

Signs can be: 

  • Withdrawal: Person withdraws, no longer or less and less participates in team meetings, talks less and less about home. 
  • Person appears depressed or anxious. 

2. offer help: Make contact with help centers 

Jutta Dreyer is familiar with the situation where managers call and need immediate help, for example when an affected employee is sitting next to them and is very afraid to go home.

"This call is the first right step that managers can take. It paves the way for them to contact us, as the people concerned would not pick up the phone themselves. Once contact has been made, we take over the conversation to build trust."

Jutta Dreyer, life situation coach, pme Assistance


However, managers may also call in acute situations because the violent family member is already at the door to collect the person concerned from work. In such cases, a manager should call the police so that the employee is not put at risk. 

3. communicate offers of help within the company 

If a conversation is held with affected employees and the person opens up, it is important what the manager radiates. It is about signaling understanding for the fact that the person concerned has found themselves in such a situation and that it is not something to be ashamed of.  

However, this applies to all problems - be it addiction or mental illness. A manager can provide support by offering help services such as the pme intranet Familienservice . Putting up posters with emergency numbers for people who experience violence at home can also help.  

In this way, employers send a signal of understanding to their employees. At the same time, the inhibition threshold for seeking support is not so high.  

4 Gently seek a conversation 

Managers can also actively seek the conversation. However, caution is advised here. Anyone offering to talk should not open the door directly. Direct statements such as "Are you experiencing violence at home?" can overwhelm the other person.  

It is better to approach the topic carefully. Gentle questions such as "Could it be that it is difficult at home?" or "Could it be that you are being put under pressure at home?" make it easier for those affected to talk openly about it.  

Jutta Dreyer encourages:

"It is important for managers not to give up straight away if they are rejected. The person concerned could initially reply that everything is fine. The manager can stay on the ball and signal a willingness to talk at any time."

Q&A for managers: important questions and answers in brief 

As a manager, is it your job to prevent domestic violence?  

Quite clearly: no. But the employees concerned can be supported with appropriate offers - always provided that the person wants this!

Be aware of how shameful this topic is and that it is rarely communicated in the workplace. Try to develop an understanding for some difficult life situations. Convey the attitude that the person concerned is not to blame for the violence against them.  

How can you provide support?  

Offer the employee a quiet room (e.g. your office) where he/she can call the pme hotline Familienservice without being disturbed. Encourage them to do so, but do not exert any pressure.

You can also offer to call the employee together. This can be very helpful if he/she is not confident enough to make the call alone or may have language problems.  

How intensively should you provide support?  

The most important thing is to support and encourage the employee to contact a counselor, such as the pme Familienservice - but don't turn yourself into a grievance box!

What can you do as a manager if there is an acute threat situation on site (in your unit)?  

In the event of acute threats, call the police: 110. If, for example, an employee is afraid to go home because he/she is afraid of violence, you can call the pme Familienservice as a customer.  

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Violence Protection Act  

Victims of domestic violence have the right to apply for court protection orders so that they are protected from further attacks by the perpetrator. The same applies to victims of stalking.

More information under: Violence Protection Act

Further help and links:

www.big-koordinierung.de

weisser-ring.de/haeuslichegewalt

www.hilfetelefon.de/gewalt-gegen-frauen/haeusliche-gewalt.html  

Maxi Bethge-Lewandowski

Maxi Bethge-Lewandowski

Founder of Periodensystem e.V.

Born in Thuringia, she is not only the founder of Periodensystem e.V., but also Chief of Staff at Market Logic Software. As an ambassador in the women's network "Panda", she pursues the goal of empowering women in leadership positions. She lives in Potsdam.

Contact:

post@perioden-system.de