Millions of girls all around the world drop out of school because of menstrual shame and menstrual poverty.
Millions of girls around the world drop out of school because of menstrual shame. They fall behind in lessons when they take 5 days off in a month due to their cycle or stop going to school after being teased by their peers from spoiling their clothes with blood during lessons. Many girls don’t even know that sanitary pads exist or are too expensive to buy if they can access them. They often dig a hole at home and sit on it for the duration of their cycle or to attempt to attend school they use leaves, sand, chicken feathers, dung, paper or pieces of clothing or mattress in their underwear to stop the blood seeping through.
Lack of education results in early marriages, young pregnancies that lead to high mortality for mother and child due to their young bodies. Using unhygienic options can result in life threatening infection and disease. Some girls have been forced into have sex in exchange for sanitary products. Something as simple as a sanitary pad can prevent so many issues girls and women and give them a better chance for a future and improve their lives. We bring that solution and empower women and girls.
Tanya Puncuh – Padding Africa founder
Padding Africa is a registered charity in the U.K with the Charities Commission - No. 1183670
About: A sanitary pad kit can prevent so many issues and give a girl a choice to stay in school and have a better chance of a future.
The Issue: Girls drop out of school due to embarrassing moments and loss of dignity and the only alternative after is a young marriage and pregnancy.
Mission: Expand on distribution routes that will distribute reusable sanitary pads throughout Southern Africa and bring International awareness to the Southern Africa menstrual issue.
