pme donates: Periodensystem e.V.
Maxi Bethge-Lewandowski 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 an average of between 550 and 650 euros on period products per year. Many cannot afford this.
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 delighted 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.
