In South Africa, millions of schoolgirls face a monthly barrier that has little to do with classrooms, textbooks or teachers. Instead, it is tied to a natural biological process that continues to derail education for a significant number of young learners nationwide.
An estimated 7 million girls in South Africa are affected by period poverty, a crisis that continues to undermine both educational outcomes and gender equality. Research referenced by the University of Pretoria indicates that nearly 30 per cent of learners miss school each month because they lack access to menstrual hygiene products and basic menstrual health education.
For many girls, the onset of menstruation, an ordinary biological event, becomes an extraordinary obstacle.
“As natural as a menstrual cycle is,” says education advocate Norleen Zulu, “for many girls it becomes a barrier to education, dignity and opportunity.”
This week, her grassroots initiative, Education With Norleen, stepped into that gap, hosting a menstrual health education session that reached 100 young girls. The programme was designed not only to distribute hygiene products but also to dismantle the social stigma and knowledge gaps surrounding menstruation.
A Crisis Beyond Sanitary Products
Period poverty is often narrowly defined as the inability to afford sanitary pads or tampons. But activists and educators argue that the issue runs far deeper.
“Period poverty is often misunderstood as simply the lack of sanitary products,” Zulu explains. “In reality, it also reflects a lack of education, safe spaces for conversation, and the confidence for young girls to understand what is happening in their bodies.”
Across much of Africa, menstruation remains surrounded by cultural silence. In several communities, young girls receive little formal education about reproductive health before their first period, leaving them confused, anxious and vulnerable to misinformation.
During the session led by Education With Norleen, participants were guided through practical and essential aspects of menstrual health, including:
- Understanding the menstrual cycle
- Tracking periods using a calendar
- Managing menstrual pain and recognising when medical help is needed
- Correct use and safe disposal of sanitary pads
- Personal hygiene and menstrual health practices
The goal, organisers say, was to transform menstruation from a source of embarrassment into a topic of knowledge and self-confidence.
Curiosity Meets Cultural Silence
One of the most striking moments during the session came not from the teaching but from the questions the girls asked.
Zulu observed a strong curiosity among participants eager to understand the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty.
“What stood out most was the curiosity and eagerness these young ladies had to learn about their bodies,” she said.
Yet the session also revealed how deep-rooted the stigma remains. Some girls were reluctant to speak openly and instead submitted their questions anonymously.
“Some girls were still hesitant to ask their questions openly and instead chose to write them down anonymously,” Zulu explained. “This small but powerful moment revealed something important: the stigma and embarrassment surrounding menstruation continues to silence many girls.”
For educators and gender advocates, that hesitation underscores the need for structured programmes that create safe, judgement-free spaces for discussion.
Partnerships Fuel Grassroots Solutions
The programme also highlighted the growing role of African-led philanthropy and grassroots entrepreneurship in addressing social challenges.
Every participant in the session received a pack of sanitary pads donated by Santou Dabo, founder of the One Child, One Chance Foundation.
Zulu emphasised that the contribution ensured the girls did not leave the session empty-handed.
“Her support ensured that these girls left not only with knowledge, but also with the essential resources they need to remain in school with dignity,” she said.
Such partnerships are becoming increasingly central to Africa’s development landscape, where non-profit initiatives, social enterprises and philanthropists are stepping in to fill gaps left by overstretched public systems.
Across the continent, a new generation of entrepreneurs and social innovators is turning attention to menstrual health. African start-ups are now producing low-cost sanitary products, biodegradable pads and reusable menstrual solutions, while advocacy organisations push governments to remove taxes on menstrual products and integrate menstrual health into school curricula.
A Continent-Wide Challenge
The issue extends far beyond South Africa.
According to UNICEF and UNESCO estimates, millions of girls across sub-Saharan Africa miss school regularly due to inadequate menstrual hygiene management. Lack of private sanitation facilities, limited access to water and deep-rooted cultural taboos combine to create systemic barriers to education.
In several countries, the challenge is being addressed through national policies. Kenya, for example, became one of the first African nations to introduce a government-funded school sanitary pad programme in 2017. Meanwhile, Rwanda has removed value-added tax on sanitary products to improve affordability.
Yet experts argue that infrastructure and policy changes alone are not enough.
Education, particularly peer-led community education, is increasingly recognised as the missing pillar in the fight against period poverty.
Education as the Catalyst
Zulu believes that tackling menstrual stigma through knowledge can have ripple effects far beyond health.
“When we remove the barriers created by period poverty, girls do not just stay in school they gain the confidence, knowledge and support needed to thrive in their education and in life,” she said.
Her organisation’s work reflects a broader shift across Africa toward community-led social innovation, where grassroots initiatives combine education, advocacy and entrepreneurship to tackle entrenched development challenges.
For advocates like Zulu, the stakes extend well beyond menstrual health.
“Ending period poverty is not just a health issue,” she says. “It is an education issue, a dignity issue, and a human rights issue.”
The Economic Case for Ending Period Poverty
For policymakers and economists, the implications are also financial.
When girls miss school regularly, the cumulative effect reduces educational attainment, workforce participation and long-term earnings potential. Studies by global development institutions suggest that improving girls’ access to education can dramatically boost economic productivity, household incomes and national GDP growth.
With Africa projected to host the world’s largest youth population by 2050, ensuring that girls remain in school is increasingly seen as a cornerstone of sustainable economic development.
Zulu’s call to action reflects that urgency.
“Let us continue working together to ensure that no girl misses school because of her period.”
For the 100 girls who attended the recent session, the impact was immediate: practical knowledge, essential supplies and perhaps most importantly, the reassurance that their bodies are not a source of shame.
For Africa’s next generation of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs, that confidence could prove transformative.
