The team decided to purchase the hygiene product dispensers and carried out the plan

To make hygiene products for girls and women available free of charge at Steinmühle, the School Parents’ Council (SEB), the Student Council (SV), and the Friends of the School Association have joined forces. There are now a total of four dispensers, located in the women’s restrooms in the new sports hall, on the first floor of the Atrium, in the Forum, and in the main building. A fifth dispenser is planned for the cafeteria.

Unlike public schools, privately run schools must arrange for the funding and installation of the dispensers themselves. The fact that there is a need for this was evident from the virtually simultaneous initiative by Bianca Zenker, chair of the parents’ advisory board, and the student council. When student council advisor Lisa Braun asked Managing Director Dirk Konnertz about “vending machines” for tampons and other products, she was pleasantly surprised to learn that internal planning for their implementation was already underway.

Bianca Zenker and the School Parents’ Council had already sought input from Principal Björn Gemmer and the general meeting of the school association, chaired by Egon Vaupel, and the response was unanimous: they gave the green light!

 

Funding from the Friends of the School Association

The SEB also reached out to the Friends of the School Association very soon after. Chairwoman Jasmine Weidenbach was immediately convinced and wholeheartedly supported the project.

The two custodians, Oleg and Viktor, quickly installed the equipment after it was delivered. Together with a few students, Lisa Braun took charge of filling the new dispensers; she will keep an eye on them and refill them as needed.
Following a trial period, the plan is to equip all women’s restrooms at the Steinmühle accordingly. The Friends of the Steinmühle Association has already committed to funding this project.