Perfectfit x Dyatmika: This is what it looks like when a school chooses care for students

By Angelica Raras Anindiati Ningtyas

We didn’t frame it as charity or a “girls' problem.”
We framed it as what it truly is: a basic need. A right. A form of care.

When we first partnered with Dyatmika School in Bali, it wasn’t part of a grand initiative.

It started, simply, with a question:

“What would it take to make periods less stressful, more comfortable for students to experience at school?”

We began with a workshop on puberty, well-being and menstrual health in September, 2024. At Dyatmika, our workshops were never just about facts and diagrams. We talked about things  in a way that made sense: what’s happening to your body, why you might feel more emotional, and how totally normal that all is. 

They shared their discomfort. Their fear of leaking. The quiet shame of whispering from girl to girl, "Do you have a pad?" The dread of an unexpected period during a school day. The awkwardness. The silence. The stress.

We also talked about how friends, classmates, and teachers can create a more supportive space, one where no one has to feel embarrassed for something so natural.

We busted some of the myths that make periods feel scary or shameful. We let the boys, male teachers, and people try the period pain simulator. We showed boys how it felt to have period discomfort at school, and how to be an advocate instead of bullies. We showed girls how to manage period cramps, take care of their hygiene, and even introduced them to safer, more eco-friendly options like our Perfectfit bamboo pads, because caring for your body should never harm the planet.

Beyond periods, these sessions were about self-care, how to look after yourself physically and emotionally, how to stop bullying before it starts, and how to support each other through all the ups and downs of growing up. 

And from that honesty, something shifted.

We realized: education alone wasn’t enough.

So we made a decision.

Perfectfit and Dyatmika decided to place free, organic Perfectfit Bamboo Pads in the counsellor’s room, always available, no questions asked.

We didn’t frame it as charity or a “girls' problem.”
We framed it as what it truly is: a basic need. A right. A form of care.

And from that simple decision, this is what bloomed👇🏽

It’s a little thing that matters.

“I used to feel so anxious. Before, there were no pads at school. Now, I know I’m good to go.” - Nadia, 8th grade

“We help each other. I run and grab one from Ibu Irma’s room if a classmate needs it. I feel… useful. Like I’m part of something.” - Gung Ari, 9th grade

These are just a few voices from Dyatmika. Students who no longer have to choose between feeling safe in their bodies and showing up fully in their education.

They’re not whispering to friends in hallways, hoping someone has a spare.
They’re not missing class, or hiding stains, or making up excuses.
They’re supported. Seen. Prepared.

Even the boys are learning.

Because at Dyatmika, we didn’t stop at the access.
We invited everyone into the conversation.

“We did a cramp simulation. I tried it. It was actually painful. It made me respect what girls go through.” - Gung Ari and Gabriel, 9th grade

“It shouldn’t be a taboo topic. I think girls should feel okay talking about it. It’s just part of life.” - Gung Ari, 9th grade

And when you hear them speak, you realise: this is what a Period Friendly World sounds like.

So this is what Perfectfit is creating now: 

A school where girls know they’ll be okay, even if their period comes early.
A place where they don’t have to whisper or hide.
A space where friends look out for each other.
Where boys understand periods are not “gross”, they’re normal.
Where a pad is not a privilege. It’s a given.

All of that… from one small step.

And this is where we’re going.

This Menstrual Hygiene Day, with the theme “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” we’re remembering something simple:

When you give young people access, safety, and understanding, 

you change more than their school day. 

You change the way they see themselves.

To Dyatmika:
Thank you for saying yes.
For nurturing students and trusting parents.
For doing the quiet, bold work of removing shame from something so normal.

To other schools, organizations, and communities:
Let’s build more of this.
Let’s normalize periods.
Let’s remove panic.
Let’s turn whispering into confidence.

Because period care is not a luxury. It’s care, plain and simple.

Want to hear directly from the students?

Check out what they had to say about having access to free bamboo pads and open conversations around periods, in their own words ↓↓↓And if your school or organization believes in creating a #PeriodFriendlyWorld where no one is held back by their cycle, we’d love to work together.

Reach out to us at hello@perfectfit.co.id and be part of the movement 🙌🏽