What began as a topic Aishvarya encountered while researching menstrual equity in correctional facilities, soon became a cause she couldn’t ignore. Instead of leaving the issue in the pages of reports and studies, the Johns Creek rising senior took action, launching a volunteer effort that now supports incarcerated youth in detention centers across Georgia.

After delivering donated hygiene products to incarcerated girls, one teen asked who the supplies were for.

“When I said, ‘They’re for you,’ she looked insanely surprised,” said Aishvarya. “Seeing that someone in the community organizing something for them brought her so much joy. That’s when I realized I wanted to keep doing this.”

Today, Aishvarya has turned that moment into TimeForJustice, the youth-led organization she founded to mobilize volunteers in support of young people in Georgia’s juvenile justice system. Since its beginning at the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center, TimeForJustice has since expanded to additional youth detention facilities across Georgia, while students in other communities have begun using her framework to organize donation drives of their own.

Aishvarya’s first drive collected more than $2,000 worth of hygiene supplies, including period products, ethnic hair care products, toothbrushes and other personal care items. Since then, her work has grown beyond donation drives to include volunteer events and storytelling projects designed to help the public see incarcerated youth beyond the labels attached to them.

Recent events have paired donated supplies with activities that foster creativity and connection, including gratitude art projects and workshops that encourage young people in detention centers to share their perspectives.

Her newest initiative focuses on interviewing incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals along with detention center staff and juvenile justice professionals to challenge public perceptions of youth in the justice system.

“They’re people, daughters, sisters, family members, friends and artists,” she said. “No person can be defined by their worst moment. If you want them to come back as better members of society, you need to start seeing them as a whole person.”

Her advocacy also highlights access to basic necessities. The Georgia Department of Corrections has enacted standard opening procedure 206.04, requiring free access to menstrual products in state prisons and detention centers. Local or municipal Jails are exempt from this policy. Enforcement of Standard Operating Procedure 206.4 is often inconsistent, and it’s up to the incarcerated individuals to report any violations. Aishvarya said people in detention are often in a vulnerable position and may have little ability to hold systems accountable or advocate for themselves, particularly minors in juvenile facilities. At the time of writing there is no law in the state of Georgia requiring free access to menstrual products for those in the justice system. 

“It’s always other people assuming what they want and making decisions that involve them without getting their own input,” she said. “As someone in the community, I thought it falls on us to help give them a voice.”

She said one of the greatest challenges has not been collecting donations but convincing others to become actively involved.

“It’s easy for people to agree something should change,” Aishvarya said. “Getting them to actually volunteer, advocate or support policy changes is much harder.”

Still, she measures success in more than numbers. While her work has expanded to additional facilities and inspired other students to launch similar donation drives, some of the most meaningful moments happen during visits with the youth themselves.

“A mental health counselor told me my impact lasts beyond the products,” she said. “Seeing someone their own age organizing for them gives them hope for what life could look like after release.”

For Aishvarya, changing public perception is just as important as delivering supplies.

“The biggest misconception is that because they committed a crime, they’re going to be like that forever,” she said. “If we want them to come back as productive members of society, we have an obligation to give them resources, rehabilitation and support.”

She hopes other students recognize they do not have to wait until adulthood to make a difference.

“You don’t need strong credentials or to be older to create change,” she said. “If you see injustice, start somewhere. It all begins with trying.”

Metro Atlanta residents have the power to make a difference.To donate and learn more about TimeForJustice, check them out on Instagram and TikTok @_timeforjustice.

The post High School student works to humanize incarcerated youth through growing volunteer effort appeared first on SaportaReport.