Breaking the Silence: Combating Period Poverty to Empower Women and Girls in South Africa

During the YLED problem-solving session, the YLED cohort was asked to identify issues that they face within their communities and one of the main issues was women’s health: young girls are kept from schools because they are in their menstrual cycle and they are unable to afford or buy good-quality sanitary towels. Based on that, the YLED program took it upon itself to support the ‘Stop Period Poverty’ cause.

Why?

The ‘Stop Period Poverty’ initiative, driven by the YLED 2023 Cohort and the YLED Give Back Programme, aims to address the issue of period poverty in South Africa. The primary objective is to provide girls with access to sanitary pads and promote proper menstrual health and hygiene practices. The initiative recognises that many young girls and female students face challenges during their menstrual periods, such as a lack of affordability to purchase sanitary products, which can lead to discomfort and potential health risks.

To achieve their goal, the YLED 2023 Cohort plans to educate and raise awareness about menstrual health. They aim to empower girls by teaching them how to care for themselves during their periods, including proper hygiene practices and knowledge about breast cancer detection and contraception options. By providing comprehensive education and support, the initiative seeks to ensure that girls have the necessary information to make informed decisions about their health.

A vital aspect of the initiative is to address the financial barriers that prevent girls from accessing the appropriate feminine hygiene products. It highlights that over 7 million parents in South Africa cannot afford to buy pads, leading to girls missing school every month. The YLED 2023 Cohort, along with the YLED Give Back Programme, aims to provide girls from all financial backgrounds with the necessary resources to manage their periods comfortably and attend school without interruptions.

By focusing on menstrual health and period poverty, the ‘Stop Period Poverty’ initiative aims to make a positive impact on the lives of girls in South Africa. The collective efforts of the YLED 2023 Cohort and the YLED Give Back Programme strive to eliminate the barriers that hinder girls’ education and well-being during their menstrual periods.

Due to the lack of access to menstruation education, waste management, and menstrual hygiene products, period poverty is a major socio-economic problem worldwide. The price of sanitary products is one of the factors that contribute to period poverty, which ultimately leads to families prioritising food purchases over menstrual supplies. Menstruation is stigmatised by perpetuating an attitude of discredited misconceptions, such as the notion that having a period makes one unclean and that periods should be kept private. Lack of access to hygienic amenities including waste management and secure restrooms, as well as a lack of menstruation education, are further factors contributing to period poverty.

The adverse effects of Period Poverty on young girls and women in South Africa include the use of unsafe sanitary products that increase health risks like infections and medical complications, around 7 million South African girls lack access to and can’t afford safe sanitary products resulting in them missing school.

30% of girls In South Africa will miss school because of periods, which infringes on their right to the access to education.

Not enough dialogues are being held on period poverty and this prevents young girls from being educated about it. Period poverty has mental health effects on young girls and women it also makes young girls and women feel uncomfortable due to using unsafe safe sanitary products as well as teasing at school – which disempowers young girls.

What can we do to help?

Many groups and activists have worked to combat and address period poverty. South Africa removed the value-added tax on sanitary items in 2019, making sanitary products VAT-free, in an effort to lessen period poverty. Through the development of programs that seek to bring information, conversation, and action toward tackling Period Poverty, YLED is assisting in the fight by focusing on it as the ‘Cause of the Year’ for YLED in 2023.

By educating people on the impact period poverty has on young women and girls in South Africa, increasing the participation of boys and men in the conversation about period poverty, and supporting groups that fight period poverty, among other things.

Help us fight period poverty! Let’s make an impact! Donate pads today! Change a life.