We empower young African schoolgirls from underserved communities with comprehensive menstrual education, mentorship, and supplies. Our program caters primarily to girls aged 10 to 15. 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 Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, with communications and development officers in 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.

It all started in 2019, when my daughter, Atarah, was born. I assumed I would be the one teaching her about life, but instead, she changed my purpose. Becoming a father opened my eyes to the world a young girl grows into, one filled with inequalities I had never truly noticed. It began in 2020, during the pandemic, when I watched a news report about girls in rural Kenya struggling to access sanitary pads. Something shifted in me, and I couldn’t stop thinking, “If this is the world my daughter will grow up in, what am I doing about it?” That question sparked my journey into menstrual health.

I soon realized I knew almost nothing about periods, which was concerning. Even more concerning was that, like many men, I knew so little about something that affects nearly half the world’s population, despite growing up with a sister. I was clearly part of the problem, so I chose to educate myself. I studied International Women’s Health and Human Rights at Stanford, where I learned how deeply menstrual stigma undermines girls’ confidence, safety, and education. One thing stood out: many interventions were outdated and uninspiring. The education felt dry, clinical, or shame-based. As an illustrator and storyteller, I saw a gap and an opportunity.

What if menstrual and sexual health education were fun, exciting, and something girls looked forward to? Because learning that is enjoyable stays with you. What children learn playfully, they rarely forget, and this became PadHer’s foundation. We created comic books in multiple African languages, animations, and interactive workshops that turn sensitive topics into empowering conversations. When we paired this with free access to reusable pads and strong community partnerships, something powerful happened: girls became more confident. They stayed in school, and they taught their friends. 

—Chika Nwaogu, founder of PadHer Initiative.

PadHer is a social enterprise dedicated to fighting period poverty in Africa. We manufacture and distribute low-cost, high-quality 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.

Yes! We currently have a dedicated program for boys, as we believe that ending period stigma requires educating boys, too.

This is why we created Boys Too, a complementary comic book that helps boys understand periods, empathy, and respect. By engaging boys as allies, PadHer helps create safer, more supportive school environments where girls can manage their periods without fear or shame. At the moment, Boys Too is available in English and French.