Valle d'Aosta, the first region in Italy, launches the tampon box: free sanitary products in upper secondary schools and possibly middle schools too.
In all upper secondary schools in Valle d'Aosta, and subject to available resources in middle schools too, girls will be able to find sanitary product dispensers. Following pilot schemes already under way at national level in secondary schools and universities, the Valle d'Aosta regional administration has launched the Tampon Box pilot project, presented at the regional technical and vocational institute "C. Gex" in Aosta. The initiative stems directly from a proposal put forward by the Consulta degli studenti (Student Council) during the 2022–2023 school year, which remained in focus in subsequent years, with the aim of making school an increasingly inclusive and welcoming environment. After two and a half years, it has finally become a reality.
"The Tampon Box project is a concrete initiative for the wellbeing of our female students and for the promotion of an increasingly inclusive school. Guaranteeing free access to sanitary products means acknowledging a real need and helping to remove a barrier that is still far too often a source of discomfort. We hope this pilot scheme can be a first step towards broader awareness, engaging the entire school community in a journey of education, consciousness and respect," explained Jean-Pierre Guichardaz, regional councillor for cultural heritage and activities, the education system, and intergenerational relations policy.
In the past, some students at Valle d'Aosta upper secondary schools had already organised themselves independently to meet their classmates' needs, making free sanitary products available within their schools. The project's aim is to formalise and expand this initiative, ensuring that dispensers are present in every upper secondary school and, subject to available resources, in middle schools as well. The installation of Tampon Boxes, the Valle d'Aosta region explains, carries a precise meaning: menstruation is a natural event, yet in many contexts it remains a taboo. Overcoming this stigma means speaking about it openly and providing concrete tools to approach the subject with awareness.
The project also includes an awareness campaign and programmes on affective and sex education, supported by specialist staff such as midwives and psychologists. Thanks to the dispensers, female students will be able to find free sanitary products at school whenever they need them, avoiding the discomfort of having to ask classmates or other adults. Il ciclo non è una scelta! ("Your period isn't a choice!") is the slogan accompanying the project, "in the hope that anyone who needs it can use the service responsibly and with awareness."
During the month of December, the tampon boxes were delivered along with their refills, and within a short time they were installed in the girls' toilets of all ten upper secondary schools in the region. The regional administration will continue to monitor the progress of the project in order to assess possible expansions and improvements, in collaboration with schools and students.
