INSPIRATIONAL YOUNG PERSON OF THE MONTH: AMIKA GEORGE
This month, we continue our series on young people who inspire us with the remarkable Amika George.
We dedicate this post to showcasing her story and accomplishments, as well as serving as a platform for conveying a more serious message – the message of period poverty.
Amika, who is only 22 years old and hailing from north-west London, has already established a solid reputation in the activism community as the founder of the Free Period campaign – a non-profit organisation focused on tackling period poverty in the UK.
Did you know that according to reports, 1 in 10 girls revealed that they were unable to afford period products, 1 in 7 had to ask a friend to lend them some, and 1 in 10 had to improvise? Consequently, over 137,000 young people in the UK are thought to have missed school due to embarrassment, bullying, and the overall negative stigma attached to menstruation.
In the words of Amika, “period poverty is a hidden problem, an unknown crisis.”
As a result, many young people in the UK must make the challenging decision between receiving the education they need and deserve and attending classes without basic supplies. Correspondingly, this frequently forces them to use unhygienic, dangerous substitutes like toilet paper, old clothing, or newspapers. Given that women make up slightly more than half of the population in the UK, this issue can no longer be disregarded.
So, how did it all begin, and where are we now?
Aged 17, Amika launched the Free Periods campaign in April 2017 from her bedroom. Armed with the power of social media and the hashtag #FreePeriods, Amika began spreading the message of period poverty outwards to all who would listen. The result was a demonstration at Downing Street later that year, to which 2,000 people came wearing red and championing signs of solidarity with the campaign.
Following this, Amika collaborated with the Red Box Project, an organisation with similar views and objectives, to initiate a campaign against the UK government, taking the #FreePeriods movement further. The intent behind this campaign was to force the government to uphold its commitment to providing equal access to education for all young people, regardless of their gender.
After much campaigning, interviewing, and protesting, the voice of the #FreePeriod campaign was finally heard. Starting with Scotland in 2018, it was announced that all schools, colleges, and universities would be able to claim free products, and in 2020,
the UK government gave £1.5 million to begin addressing this issue in England. Fast forward to this year and the government's free period product scheme has seen strong take-up nationwide. According to new data, 94% of secondary schools now provide free period products to students.
this proves that real change can happen, and it all starts with one person using their voice to stand up.
Amika set out with the single goal of eradicating period poverty in the UK. In demonstrating her leadership, teamworking, and communication skills, Amika can certainly be considered a prominent figure in generating a more positive outlook for many young people in the UK. As a result of her efforts, she has been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), been recognised by TIME Magazine as one of their most influential teens, written articles for Teen Vogue after a nomination from Emma Watson, and won a Goalkeepers Campaign Award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
With Period Action Day 2022 taking place in October, we can’t think of a more suitable person to be recognised for their efforts and achievements.
If you would like to read more about this, please visit the links below.