Menstrual hygiene is a human right. Period.

The IAMFORHER Foundation, along with sponsors, donates sanitary towels and machines in schools across the Western Cape for World Menstrual Hygiene Day, which took place on May 28.

Up to seven million South African girls do not have access to, or cannot afford to buy, sanitary products. Globally, of the 1.9 billion individuals who menstruate, an estimated 500 million were unable to attain menstrual health.

These dire statistics – and the reality of period poverty – is what drives local NGO, IAMFORHER Foundation, to destigmatise menstruation, provide education on menstruation and offer free sanitary products to schools and communities across South Africa.

Ahead of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, which took place on Saturday May 28, IAMFORHER Foundation and private donors – along with local content creators Rushana Isaacs, Junette Syster and Jadine Walters – installed sanitary towel machines at Vista High School in Cape Town, Gordon High School at Firgrove in Somerset West, and donated sanitary towels to Tamboerskloof Primary in Gardens.

The founder of IAMFORHER Foundation, Nicky Cupido, including her own family, are alumnis of Ebenezer Primary School in Paarl, who were the recipients of a sanitary towel machine installation at the school too.

“With a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, and education around menstruation, many girls and women across the country suffer from period poverty.

“The sociological effects of this far extend from simply missing school or work, but essentially make these individuals feel alienated from society while menstruating,” says Natalie Jardine, Head of Brand at IAMFORHER Foundation.

This is where IAMFORHER Foundation aims to make a difference. “With proper education around menstruation, access to waste management and sanitary towels, we aim to make a difference to the lives of women across the country,” concludes Ms Jardine.

For more information on, visit www.iamforherfoundation.co.za