Our comic books come with free pads and are available in 15 widely spoken languages in Africa (English, French, Arabic, Swahili, Zulu, Amharic, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Luganda, Xhosa, Somali, Shona, Sesotho, and Oromo).
(3 per girl)
These organizations have supported and/or recognized our innovation.
THE ISSUE
One in 10 girls in Africa miss school during their periods to avoid the embarrassment of bleeding through their uniforms. Some use unhygienic items like cloth, socks, leaves, or dry grass instead of pads, which can lead to infections. Many girls drop out of school once they start menstruating. Should our young girls miss 20% of school days or drop out because of a lack of information or sanitary products?
The plain answer is NO!
There’s already a lot standing in their way; from pervasive poverty to persistent cultural attitudes, to forced early marriages and child labour.
Periods shouldn’t be one of them!
Many girls face period poverty (lack of access to menstrual products and education) due to financial barriers, stigma, and a lack of education about periods, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse.
OUR SOLUTION
We are a women-led non-profit organization dedicated to educating and mentoring young African schoolgirls from underserved communities about periods, puberty, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through comic books and animations.
Each of our comic books comes with 3 free reusable sanitary pads, a pair of underwear, and a unique period bracelet to help track their cycle and ensure they are always prepared with a pad in their school bag.
At PadHer, we use the power of storytelling through comic books and animations to transform how we educate girls about periods, puberty, and SRHR topics.
We are PadHer. We educate, mentor, and equip young African schoolgirls to manage their periods effectively and with confidence, breaking down barriers so they can take control of their futures.
PADHER IN ACTION!
Our core values are based on the acronym P.E.R.I.O.D
P
Providing free sanitary pads to young schoolgirls and ensuring they are easily accessible.
E
Educating and mentoring young African schoolgirls on periods, puberty, and sexual and reproductive health and rights in the most innovative way.
R
Raising awareness about the importance of menstrual hygiene for young schoolgirls.
I
Instilling the self-confidence young schoolgirls need to succeed in the future.
O
Obliterating period poverty in Africa.
D
Dispelling long-held myths and misconceptions about periods.
Our animated series, "The Period Academy," is here at last!
Say hello to The Period Academy—PadHer’s animated series created to spark curiosity, start important conversations, and reach even more young African girls across the continent. As we work to break barriers and end period poverty, we knew we had to move fast—and think big. That’s where animation comes in.
Unlike printed materials or physical workshops that are tied to specific locations, animation travels far and wide. It can be watched on TV, online, or on a phone—anytime, anywhere. That means whether a girl lives in the heart of a city or a quiet village, The Period Academy can meet her right where she is.
The series follows the fun and relatable adventures of young Gigi and Mimi as they begin to learn about their bodies, with the kind and wise Freya—Gigi’s older sister—gently guiding them through each discovery. Through laughter, questions, and everyday moments, girls watching get to learn right alongside them.
We’ve already seen huge success making our comic books available for free download on our website and as an ebook on Amazon—allowing us to reach girls far beyond our physical borders. But we wanted to go even further, even faster. That’s why we brought our stories to life through animation, making important lessons about periods, puberty, and sexual health not just informative, but fun and memorable.
Episode 1 has already aired on local TV stations across the continent, and in just a short time, it has helped us reach over 100,000 girls—and counting!
The Period Academy is more than a series. It’s a bold step forward in our mission to ensure no girl is left behind just because of her period. With animation, we're not just scaling—we're soaring.
ABOVE: Chika Nwaogu, PadHer’s founder, holds the PadHer Schoolgirl Kit. The kit includes a free comic book that teaches about periods, three reusable pads (two medium flow pads for daytime use and one heavy flow pad for nighttime), a small wet bag for storing used pads discreetly at school, a pair of underwear, and a period bracelet to help girls track their cycle and stay prepared.
THE SDGs WE CURRENTLY ADDRESS!
NO POVERTY
Period poverty is poverty—plain and simple. The goal is to end all forms of poverty everywhere, and just like others, period poverty was made worse by the pandemic. At PadHer, we're on a mission to help end period poverty across Africa!
REDUCED INEQUALITIES
COVID-19 has worsened existing inequalities like period poverty, leaving many families unable to afford essential menstrual products. We are helping reduce these inequalities by providing free period products and education to girls in vulnerable communities.
good health and well-being
We give free reusable pads and underwear to young schoolgirls in underserved communities, so they don’t have to rely on unsafe alternatives like old rags, clothes, or socks—items that can cause infections and serious health problems.
Quality Education
African schoolgirls miss up to 5 days of school each month due to their periods. PadHer keeps girls in school by providing free sanitary pads and offering education on menstruation, puberty, and reproductive health — ensuring every girl has the chance at a quality education.
gender equality
We are ensuring that young African schoolgirls can manage their periods safely, hygienically, and with dignity. We are breaking down barriers and creating positive social norms around periods.
RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION and PRODUCTION
At PadHer, we provide young schoolgirls with reusable sanitary pads, reducing waste and promoting sustainable habits. We also teach them how to properly use and care for their pads, preventing infections while encouraging eco-friendly choices. It’s a win for the girls and a win for the planet.
More SDGs >>>
OUR APPROACH
At PadHer, we take a holistic approach to support young African schoolgirls in underserved communities by:
Bringing menstrual and sexual health to life through fun animations, comic books, and interactive workshops!
PadHer is leading the way in innovative menstrual and SRHR education. Through a unique blend of comic books, animation, and interactive workshops, we’re revolutionizing how young girls, especially in underserved communities, learn about these essential topics.
Making sanitary pads free and easy to access for every girl!
In underserved communities, financial challenges often make sanitary products inaccessible. To help, PadHer provides young schoolgirls with three free reusable sanitary pads, along with education and mentorship on menstrual health. We’re offering two years of period protection, plus a free pair of underwear with each set of pads!
Raising menstrual awareness with the power of Period Bracelets!
We’re raising menstrual awareness with period bracelets that help break the stigma. Young schoolgirls wear them proudly to show they’re confident about their cycles. The bracelets also serve as a tool to track their periods, ensuring they’re always prepared with a pad in their school bag.
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Lack of knowledge about periods can lead to harmful myths, discrimination, and exclusion. Too many girls miss out on everyday childhood experiences simply because they aren’t given the chance to learn about their bodies in a safe, supportive way. Stigma, taboos, and misinformation often prevent young girls from developing healthy habits and confidence during this crucial stage of life.
That’s why Girls Only was created — to make learning about periods, puberty, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) fun, free, and easy for young schoolgirls.
Talking about these topics shouldn’t be awkward or boring. If we want to connect with young girls, we need to speak their language — and what better way than through comic books?
Girls Only follows the story of Amanda, a 12-year-old African schoolgirl navigating her first period. Through Amanda’s eyes, readers explore the physical, emotional, and social changes that come with growing up. The comic series is an engaging, age-appropriate, and relatable resource that covers periods, puberty, and now a broader range of SRHR topics.
What started as a comic book about periods and puberty has since grown to include sexual and reproductive health and rights topics, addressing critical issues such as teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), body rights, and sexual and gender-based violence.
Through PadHer, young girls receive free, accessible education on menstrual health and comprehensive SRHR — a vital part of quality education that empowers them to make informed choices in a world where HIV/AIDS, early pregnancies, and gender-based violence remain serious challenges. Girls Only isn’t just a comic — it’s a movement helping every young African schoolgirl take charge of her health, rights, and future.
AWESOME STORYTELLING
Girls Only brings a fresh, innovative approach to storytelling and audience engagement. By weaving real-life experiences into our narratives, we make learning about periods, puberty, and SRHR topics both relatable and fun!
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES
The first issue of the Girls Only comic series, titled “First Period,” is now available in 15 languages — including English, French, Arabic, Swahili, Zulu, Amharic, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Luganda, Xhosa, Somali, Shona, Sesotho, and Oromo. And we’re not stopping there — plans are underway to release translations in 15 more languages by mid-2025. Our goal is simple: to reach as many girls as possible, and this is a meaningful step toward making that a reality.
Our comic books turn learning about periods, puberty, and SRHR topics into a fun, relatable experience for schoolgirls — and make teaching these subjects easier and more comfortable for teachers and parents.
Every copy of our free Girls Only comic book comes with three reusable sanitary pads, a stylish wet bag for storing used pads until they can be washed at home, and one pair of underwear — all part of our mission to combat period poverty across Africa.
Every copy of our free Girls Only comic book comes with a unique period bracelet designed to help young schoolgirls easily track their menstrual cycle in a fun and practical way.
"...PadHer recognise that girls’ issues, for example menstruation, are something that are not just for girls to learn about, but for all kids to learn about..."
— HundrED
Girls Only is based on thorough research and contains medically accurate information. Every issue is carefully vetted and reviewed by healthcare professionals to ensure it's safe, reliable, and age-appropriate.
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In some communities, schoolgirls engage in transactional sex just to afford sanitary pads — putting them at risk of HIV, other STIs, and unwanted pregnancies. In Kenya, for instance, 60% of girls lack access to sanitary pads, and at least 10% of transactional sex is tied to the need for menstrual products. This highlights a clear link between limited access to menstrual products, inadequate reproductive health education, and the vulnerability of young girls to high-risk behavior. By providing free, reusable sanitary pads and delivering essential menstrual education through Girls Only, we’re not just helping girls manage their periods — we’re helping them stay in school, stay safe, and make empowered choices about their bodies and futures.
There are many myths about periods that are passed down to young girls. This booklet aims to enlighten them by providing accurate answers to common period-related questions and debunking these myths along the way.
Chicken tries but fails to fly. Chicken is unhappy with being unable to fly like other birds but soon discovers its ability to do other things — like run very fast and starts to love being a Chicken again!
Your daughter will love this brightly colored children's book that teaches self-esteem in a fun and exciting way! With vibrant illustrations, this picture book will help her appreciate herself and all that makes her unique. It's a fantastic gift for any occasion, helping to instill positive self-esteem values in that wonderful child.
The Genius Project is a PadHer initiative that publishes books to help young girls build the self-confidence they need to take control of their future and succeed. One of the books published as part of this initiative is Chicken, the Bird That Couldn’t Fly.
PadHer regularly visits schools in underserved communities across Africa, where we distribute our comic books and engage young girls aged 10 to 15 in one-hour workshops covering key period topics. This age group (Grades 6-8) is around the time girls typically begin menstruating.
When we visit a school, we provide each girl with a free comic book about periods, three reusable sanitary pads, a small, stylish wet bag, one pair of underwear, and a free period bracelet.
Every period workshop concludes with a certificate of participation presented to each student who took part. While our primary focus is on young schoolgirls in underserved communities, we sometimes include boys too.
QUICK FACT: Did you know that every copy of the "Girls Only" comic book comes with 3 free PadHer Reusables to help fight Period Poverty in Africa? PadHer Reusables are high-quality, reusable cloth sanitary pads. The set includes 2 medium-flow pads (for daytime) and 1 heavy-flow pad (for nighttime). We also provide young schoolgirls with a small, stylish wet bag to store used pads when they change at school, along with one pair of underwear.
Our comic books also come with a free, unique period bracelet!
Since every schoolgirl has a different menstrual cycle, each girl can create a period bracelet that’s tailored to her own cycle. Some girls have cycles as short as 21 days, while others have cycles as long as 40 days — no matter the length, the Period Bracelet is for them.
Inside the bracelet kit, each schoolgirl will find a fishing line (for stringing the beads), 10 red beads, and 40 white/black beads. The red beads represent days when she’s on her period, and the white/black beads represent days when she’s off her period. That's 50 beads in total!
While not all 50 beads are needed to make the bracelet, we provide plenty to ensure that every girl can create a bracelet that matches her menstrual cycle length.
In just three easy steps, based on her period pattern, each schoolgirl can construct a unique period bracelet. This bracelet serves as a simple and effective tool for tracking her menstrual cycle — a fun and easy way to know when to expect her period. Our comic books teach how to make and use this unique bracelet!
It’s important for schoolgirls to start tracking their menstrual cycle so they can predict when their period will start and be prepared with a pad in their school bag.
With PadHer, every day is Period Awareness Day (P.A.D).
Why now?
COVID-19 RESPONSE
The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened period poverty in underserved communities, with many families already struggling to afford basic needs like rent, food, and utilities — let alone essential menstrual products.
As long as menstrual products are not seen as necessities, families will continue to suffer. Not everyone who needs them has access to them. With finances tight, every expense becomes a source of stress. Unlike other disasters, the impact of COVID-19 is global, and the demand for period products is universal. The financial strain caused by the pandemic has made it even harder for families to access menstrual materials, increasing the risk of schoolgirls missing class.
A survey found that 84% of students have missed school during their period due to a lack of menstrual supplies. Access to these products is a basic human need, and it’s unacceptable to continue overlooking period poverty. The lack of menstrual products, education, and the ongoing stigma have serious consequences for the well-being of young girls around the world.
PadHer was created to bridge this gap. We provide menstrual education and supplies to young African schoolgirls in underserved communities. Together, we can make a world-leading impact. Join us in creating change — donate today!
PERIODS DON’T STOP FOR PANDEMICS.
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OUR PARTNERS
Our work is made possible through the support of our global and local partners
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Interested in partnering with us?
Reach out at: ahamba@padher.org
