We empower young African schoolgirls from underserved communities with comprehensive menstrual education, mentorship, and supplies. Our program caters primarily to girls aged 9 to 14. Those who have not yet started menstruating receive educational comic books and participate in workshops focusing on periods and puberty. For girls who are menstruating, we provide essential menstrual supplies (3 reusable sanitary pads) and a period-tracking bracelet. Our offices are located in Lagos, Nigeria, and Nairobi, Kenya, with communications and development officers in Ghana, Malawi, Egypt, and South Africa. We are constantly working with community-based organizations throughout Africa to help bring PadHer to their community.

Period poverty is a widespread and pressing issue in sub-Saharan Africa. For many, managing a period is simply unaffordable — yet it remains a largely unspoken challenge. A recent survey found that 84% of students have missed school during their periods due to a lack of menstrual supplies. Access to menstrual products is a basic human right, and it is unacceptable to continue ignoring the reality of period poverty, particularly in Africa. One in ten girls miss school each month because of their periods, and many are forced to drop out entirely once menstruation begins. Our girls should not lose 20% of their school days each year — or drop out — because of inadequate access to information or supplies. They already face enough obstacles, from pervasive poverty and harmful cultural norms to early marriage and child labor. Periods should never be one of them.

“I met a woman in Nairobi who shared a powerful story with me. She got her first period at just eight years old but never told her parents because she thought something was wrong with her. She didn’t know what it was—and out of fear of being judged, she kept it to herself. For years, she managed her periods using cotton, only learning about sanitary pads when they were handed out at school to girls who had started menstruating. Unsure if what she was experiencing was truly a period due to its irregularity, she took the pads anyway—still convinced she had a problem. The shame and confusion led her to change schools, just to hide her experience from her friends. Her story opened my eyes to how crucial period education is. Too many young girls still face similar fears, confusion, and stigma. Her experience became the inspiration behind PadHer—because no girl should ever feel ashamed of her period or go through it alone.” —Chika Nwaogu, founder of PadHer Initiative.

PadHer is a social enterprise dedicated to fighting period poverty in Africa. We manufacture and distribute high-quality, affordable reusable sanitary pads for women and girls from low-income households. Every pad purchased helps provide a free pad to a young African schoolgirl who cannot afford one. Learn more at Padher.com

Many young African schoolgirls from underserved communities lack the basic infrastructure—like clean water, soap, and private bathrooms—needed to manage reusable pads hygienically. However, disposable sanitary pads present an even greater challenge, particularly around disposal, and are not a sustainable solution. Since many of these girls cannot afford ongoing access to disposable products, offering them only a temporary fix does not truly address period poverty.

Period products also have a significant environmental impact, and choosing reusable options not only benefits the planet but can also support better health outcomes.

Our goal is to eventually help these young schoolgirls gain access to the facilities and resources they need to manage reusable pads safely and effectively. You can help us make this a reality—donate today.

While reusable tampons are among the newer eco-friendly alternatives to disposable period products, we have not yet introduced them to the young schoolgirls we support. However, we look forward to offering this option in the near future.

While we currently don’t have a dedicated program for boys, our Girls Only comic book series was created with them in mind. We chose the name Girls Only to spark curiosity among young boys, encouraging them to learn why the topic matters. We believe that ending period shaming starts with educating boys as well.

We are also developing a new comic book titled Boys Too, which will teach young boys about periods and puberty, with a special focus on building empathy and support for girls experiencing their periods.