Amika George MBE is an activist who campaigns against period poverty in the UK.
At the age of 17, she founded the “Free Periods” movement to address period poverty and ensure that all girls have access to menstrual products.
Her inspiration came when she stumbled upon a headline on the BBC website: “Girls too poor to Buy Sanitary products Missing School.” Further research revealed that a charity aiming to send sanitary products to Kenya was redirecting them to the UK instead. Realizing that students in the UK faced similar challenges as those in the developing world, she initiated her campaign movement.
Teaming up with the Red Box Charity, she spearheaded a legal campaign against the UK government.
She urged them to fulfil their legal obligation to “ensure equal access to education for all children.” As a result, the Department for Education committed funding for free period products in all English schools, marking a significant victory for the Free Periods movement.
Amika’s activism has earned widespread acclaim.
She was honoured on Time’s list of Most Influential Teens of 2018 and featured among the Big Issue’s top 100 Changemakers (nominated by Emma Watson). Additionally, she received a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Campaign Award in 2018. In the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to education, she was awarded an MBE, becoming the youngest recipient on the list at 21.
Amika George’s achievements continue to inspire and her dedication to the community is widely appreciated and celebrated.
