The Education Ministry spends 200 million annually to subsidize menstrual products for primary and secondary schools. So why do many female students "dare not receive them"?
“It’s so expensive to buy menstrual pads. Will putting toilet paper on the pad make it last longer?”
“Ah! My period is here, but I don’t have any pads… what should I do?”
The Education Ministry began promoting their “friendly provision of diversified sanitary products” policy in August of 2023, which invested over 200 million yuan each year to provide a monthly subsidy of NT$200 for the economically disadvantaged. It also subsidizes high schools and vocational schools to set up a fixed location on campus to distribute a diverse range of sanitary products to students. Reporter for Kids followed up by visiting different campuses and found that while some campuses worked to increase disseminating the products through “group orders” and others have the flexibility to use digital student IDs for students to redeem at convenience stores, others are financially restricted to only providing for the most financially disadvantaged students. For the program to reach more students in a friendly, label-free way it will require creative thinking, and a new approach.
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[My 14-Year-Old Self] Li Zhen-hui: Speaking for the Deaf, Speaking for the Deaf, Resolving Childhood Insecurities
When I was young, I was a good student but very introverted. My family's economic situation was extremely poor, almost equivalent to a low-income household. I had pain I couldn't express, which made my personality both arrogant and insecure.
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"My 14-Year-Old Self" - Chen Yen-lin: Struck by an 'incurable disease,' I became the one relentlessly searching for a solution
When I learned that I had muscular dystrophy, my life became a constant battle against a body that deteriorated a little more each day. I tried hard to overcome the inconveniences caused by muscle weakness—figuring out the right angle to put on clothes, discovering the best way to take a step forward. It felt as if someone had cruelly changed the "rules of the game," and before I could adjust, my body would decline further, forcing me to start all over again. The blows came relentlessly, one after another, and countless days of secretly shedding tears drowned out the youthful years of my life.
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Changing social policy: High school students’ rental umbrella idea brought to life
A country as rainy as Taiwan can catch anyone in a sudden downpour without an umbrella, so when Taipei high school student Yu Cheng-hsi (余承熹) started a shared umbrella project, its popularity resonated throughout not only his school but also the city.
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Protecting the Beautiful Home of Sea Turtles and Coral Reefs: Xiao Liuqiu’s New Fee for Intertidal Zone Tourism
After the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted, a global tourism boom emerged. Countries such as Italy (Venice) and Spain (Valencia) have implemented new tourist taxes in various ways. These measures aim not only to generate substantial tourism revenue but also to control visitor numbers, reduce environmental impacts caused by excessive tourism, and minimize disruptions to the quality of life for local residents. In Taiwan, the island of Xiao Liuqiu, known for its rich marine biodiversity and the highest density of endangered green sea turtles, has introduced a "conservation tourism fee" in three intertidal zones starting in July 2024. Visitors entering these regulated areas must pay a 60 NT entrance fee.
The Reporter for Kids is a series of news reports created by The Reporter (報導者) that aims to provide in-depth news stories to children and young adults.
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