Please note this page will be regularly updated!
General FAQs
Who is behind Neighborhood Feminists?
The NF co-founders are Camila, Anneloes and Tammy. Since February 2021, our team has grown by the addition of two part-time employees. We are also supported by a modest team of volunteers. Read more about us here.
Where can I find your annual report and financial information?
You may download our annual narrative and financial report over 2022 here directly! On some mobile devices, opening that link may not work: you can also flip through the report here. Our ANBI information is here, and you may find previous annual reports at the bottom of that page as well.
What neighborhoods do you currently work in?
Our projects take place across Amsterdam, with an emphasis on Zuidoost, Oost and Centrum. Our Menstruation Stations are in almost all city districts right now.
How can I support your projects?
Check out our donate page! You can also join us as a volunteer, for example by helping assemble Dignity Kits or making deliveries. We are always open for a conversation on what you would like to do and where your skills lie, so do send us a message if you would like to help on our projects!
Are there other ways I can support you, besides becoming a donor?
Absolutely! Here are a few ideas:
Why is your website in English when you’re working in The Netherlands?
Our website is both Dutch and English for two main reasons: the three of us have three different native languages, and the women we work with speak a myriad of languages too. English seemed the best middle ground! If you get in touch with us though, feel free to send a message in Dutch too (or Spanish, or French!).
Are you an official non-profit?
Yes! We are registered as a non-profit foundation at the Kamer van Koophandel (Chamber of Commerce) under no. 76098834.
Are you an ANBI organisation?
Yes! As of October 30, 2019, we have official ANBI status. This means that the Dutch government has verified that all our work is done for the public benefit and that none of our board members get paid. It also means you can deduct your donations to Neighborhood Feminists from your income tax application in The Netherlands.
Dignity Kit FAQs
What are these Dignity Kits you keep talking about?
Dignity Kits are packs containing about a month’s worth of menstrual products and other basic toiletries.
How much does one Dignity Kit cost to make?
Currently, the Dignity Kits cost about € 15,00 per person per month on average. The assembly cost can vary depending on, for example, whether we have received donated products that month or not.
Why is it so important to include menstrual products in Dignity Kits?
Menstrual products like tampons, menstrual pads and panty liners are often expensive and even classified as a “luxury product”: in Belgium, for example, these products are taxed under the high tax rate. In The Netherlands, tampons and pads are taxed with a reduced 9% rate as they are considered health and hygiene products.
For an average menstrual cycle, a person would use about 35 pads. Paying for menstrual pads is a financial burden that people who menstruate cannot avoid. As the people we are currently providing with kits usually have either no income at all or have a very limited weekly budget, menstrual products quickly become very expensive. In addition, Bloody Good Period, an organisation providing menstrual products to refugees and other groups in the UK, reported that menstruating people coming into the EU as refugees can have very irregular and heavy periods because of the trauma that they went through.
The people receiving our Dignity Kits are often not allowed to work to receive extra income, and many of them have to support not only themselves but also their children. The choice between buying food or buying menstrual products is an extremely hard one to make.
Why not distribute menstrual cups instead of pads and tampons?
We agree that menstrual cups are an awesome product with very little impact on the environment and lots of benefits for people using them compared to traditional menstrual products – we also use them ourselves! But, menstrual cups have several drawbacks for the group we work with.
First of all, they can have a steep learning curve: something you might imagine people are not in the mood for when they don’t even have a place to sleep for the night. Choosing an option you are familiar with takes up a lot less valuable brain space.
Secondly, the group we work with often prefers menstrual products that do not need to be inserted. They prefer pads over tampons for modesty reasons or because of for example female genital cutting or trauma. Menstrual cups of course need to be inserted, and they are quite large in comparison to tampons as well.
Thirdly, menstrual cups need to be frequently washed with water and soap, and need to be sterilised at least between cycles. The people we work with often do not have continuous access to a clean space to do this.
If any of the people we provide with Dignity Kits requests a menstrual cup however, we are of course more than happy to provide them with one! We have also provided people with period underwear, for example.
How many people do you currently provide Dignity Kits for?
We are working together with various organizations to supply Dignity Kits; organizations that already offer other help, such as food or legal assistance. We are currently providing more than 650 people with kits each month.
We are continuously increasing the amount of kits distributed as the project progresses.
Do you also provide kits outside of Amsterdam?
We currently do not, but never say never!
Menstruation Station FAQs
What are Menstruation Stations?
Menstruation Stations are awesome little cabinets stocked (and kept replenished) with free period products for anyone in need, no questions asked
How can I support a Menstruation Station?
For EUR 40 per month you can sponsor a Menstruation Station in Amsterdam, or EUR 500 a year. Any surplus because of buying in bulk or donated products will go to funding new Menstruation Stations. Get in touch with us if you’re interested in meeting this need!