Every day, around 1,600 girls experience their very first period
This story doesn’t apply to just one individual. It’s a narrative that speaks for millions of young women across South Africa.
For many in the West, starting your period is an early milestone filled with shock, fear, and much anxiety. A girl becomes a woman and, in most cases, this journey is quietly celebrated. There’s usually a supportive family around her, or at the very least an empathetic mother ready to guide, comfort, and educate her. And, as a society, in general we just accept it for what it is, even seeing it as a beautiful thing.
In fact, once the initial worry fades, that first step into womanhood can bring excitement, joy, and a growing sense of belonging in the world. It’s normal and happens every day.
For most of us, it’s no big deal. The issue is worthy of respect, understanding and privacy.
For too many, we’re all the family they have
In South Africa, society — and often even family — can act very differently.
Stigma is rife. Sanitary products are considered a luxury. And emotional support is often nowhere to be found. Just think: all those natural fears and anxieties, magnified by your own society, making you feel almost worthless.
Our primary goal is to ensure that these young women have access to pads and can manage their monthly cycle with dignity. But for many, we also provide the emotional support they so desperately need, helping them grow into confident, capable individuals with a strong sense of self-worth.
We teach girls how to use and manage our products safely, encourage boys to understand and respect what their classmates experience, and equip teachers to create safe, supportive spaces in their classrooms. Above all, we remind every girl that there is nothing to be ashamed of. We become the family they can rely on.
Please help us to continue our essential mission and make every girl’s first period a celebration, not a struggle.
