The Pad Project: Activism, Global Sisterhood & Girls Helping Girls

What happens when a high school project becomes a global movement?

In this episode of The Women’s Current, Sylvia and Molly sit down with Melissa Berton, founder of The Pad Project, and Jayna Gandhi, the organization’s Gen Z Marketing Coordinator. Together they explore how a student-led documentary—Period. End of Sentence.—grew into an international mission for menstrual equity, access, and dignity.

The Pad Project began with a simple but transformative belief:

A period should end a sentence, not a girl’s education.

Today, the organization partners with communities across the world to ensure girls and women have the resources, products, and opportunities they deserve—while empowering younger generations to lead the charge.

In this intergenerational conversation, we dive into:

How Period. End of Sentence. became an Oscar-winning documentary
The origins of The Pad Project and its global expansion
Why menstrual equity is foundational to girls’ education and autonomy
How Gen Z activism is breaking stigma and fueling sustainable change
What “global sisterhood” looks like in practice
The ripple effect of girls helping girls—and why it transforms communities
The power of storytelling, visibility, and collective action
The next frontier in menstrual equity work

This episode brings together experience, youth, advocacy, and the belief that when women and girls support each other, tides turn—and futures open.

ABOUT THE GUESTS

️ Melissa Berton

Academy Award–winning Producer & Founder, The Pad Project

Melissa Berton is a teacher, producer, and activist whose work has reshaped global conversations around menstrual health and girls’ education. She led the student group that created the documentary Period. End of Sentence., which won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. The film sparked the launch of The Pad Project, now an international nonprofit working to advance menstrual equity through education, product access, and community-led solutions. Under her leadership, The Pad Project has funded pad machines, reusable pad programs, and menstrual health initiatives across multiple continents.

️ Jayna Gandhi

Gen Z Marketing Coordinator, The Pad Project

Jayna Gandhi represents the next generation of global changemakers. As the Gen Z Marketing Coordinator, she amplifies stories of menstrual equity, community impact, and girls’ empowerment through. Her digital advocacy bridges youth activism with global storytelling—mobilizing young audiences to join the movement and challenge stigma.

KEY THEMES

Menstrual Equity
Global Sisterhood
Gen Z Activism
Girls’ Education
Community-Led Change
Period Stigma & Dignity
Sustainable Solutions
Intergenerational Advocacy

Links

The Pad Project: https://thepadproject.org/

Melissa Berton: https://melissaberton.com/

Life Après: https:lifeapres.com