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2025 Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom Application

Welcome to this year's application for the Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom -- built by Operation Period.
We had an incredible first two years with our cohort of fellows during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school year. As we wrap up with our second set of fellows, we are looking for our third cohort.
Please complete this application BEFORE September 26th at 9 pm PST to be considered.
If you are accepted to the Institute as a fellow for the school year (2025-26), you will be tasked with selecting a community project related to menstrual freedom for your local/state area and executing it. You will learn from our organizer trainings, be paired with a mentor, and provided funding for your work. Participation will be on one weekday evening per week to accommodate youth organizers who are in school or who work.
Projects can range from art projects such as zines, children's books, mixtapes, or short films, advocacy initiatives at the campus, local, state, and federal level, educational initiatives, and community engagement events such as in-person and digital spaces to convene, educate, and create. Other ideas and projects are also welcome!
Applications are open to U.S. based youth organizers of all backgrounds from the ages of 16 to 29. More information and a FAQ can be found here.
If you have any questions or trouble with the form, please email [email protected]

Name

Email (please make sure this is an email you check regularly)

Phone number

State you're based in

Are you in school?

Are you in school?
A
B
C

Tell us about yourself

Why are you interested in joining the Youth Institute for Menstrual Freedom?

Menstrual freedom is a term coined by Operation Period to advocate addressing the root causes of menstrual inequity -- like the prison industrial complex, transphobia, sexism, ableism, and more. It can also mean different things to different people. What does menstrual freedom mean to you, and how does it connect to your lived experiences, your community, or the future you want to build? Share a story, perspective, or vision that shows why you want to be part of this movement.

You can write your essay below or choose to submit a video essay in the next block. If you are submitting a video essay, please write in the written essay block that you are submitting a link instead. Videos will not be judged on quality or creativity, but rather the content of your answer.

Link to video essay:

Please make sure there is no password or expiration on the video.

Do you have a community project in mind? No worries if you do not.

Do you have a community project in mind? No worries if you do not.
A
B

We encourage groups to work on the project with you. While you will be the only one of the group paired with a mentor and attending trainings, do you think you would be able to meet outside the Institute meetings to work with a group you put together?

We encourage groups to work on the project with you. While you will be the only one of the group paired with a mentor and attending trainings, do you think you would be able to meet outside the Institute meetings to work with a group you put together?
A
B
C

This is the tentative schedule for our Institute. Would this work for you?

October 2025: Fellows orientation

October 2025 - December 2025: Fellows will attend and complete their foundational coursework on the following topics – history, ideology of menstrual freedom, advocating for change, dialogue and messaging, coalition building, and fundraising

November 2025: Fellows will begin to form their community project and will be placed with their one-on-one mentor

January 2026 - April 2026: Fellows will continue their community project with the guidance of their mentor and the Institute instructors. They will also be given their funding from the Institute in the beginning of January

End of April 2026: Fellows will complete program

May 2026: Graduation from program
This is the tentative schedule for our Institute. Would this work for you?
A
B
C
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