This #FeministFriday, we spotlight three Nguvu Changeleaders  from South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, who are tirelessly advocating for menstrual rights and working to end period poverty. 

A feminist writer and gender activist based in Lagos, Nigeria, Aladeselu Margaret Ayomikun’s advocacy is deeply personal; her cousin missed a crucial national exam because she couldn’t afford sanitary pads and as a result, did not gain admission into university that year. This level of period poverty is the unfortunate reality for 37 million Nigerian women who cannot afford sanitary products, as revealed by Nigeria’s Former Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, in 2021. Nguvu Changeleader Margaret is campaigning for policy changes to make menstrual products tax-free and affordable, rallying support through online petitions and community engagement. Her mission is clear: make menstrual products accessible to all Nigerian women and end period poverty.

While Kenya scrapped its 16% value-added tax (VAT) on period products in 2004, becoming the first country in the world to do so, period poverty persists. A solution that Kenyan Nguvu Changeleader Amina Abdi Guyo is campaigning is the provision of reusable sanitary products. A nurse who has experienced challenges with menstrual hygiene in the past, Amina is the founder of the Sitiri Campaign, which empowers women and girls in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) of Kenya by providing reusable sanitary pads and training them to create their own businesses. Sitiri campaign distributes sustainable menstrual products and also tackles cultural stigmas surrounding menstruation. 

The problem of period poverty is further exacerbated for incarcerated women. South African Nguvu Changeleader Siphesihle Ndwandwe is addressing this challenge through her non-profit organization, Elam Empowerment. Siphesihle conducts pad and diaper drives to collect and donate essential menstrual hygiene products to prisons. These drives highlight the critical need for consistent menstrual hygiene support in prisons. Siphesihle calls on the South African government to prioritize menstrual health in the correctional system budget, ensuring an adequate and consistent supply of menstrual products for all incarcerated women. Her advocacy aims to establish a standard policy for menstrual product provision across all female prisons. 

Join us in supporting these incredible Nguvu Changeleaders and their initiatives by signing their petitions. 

#EndPeriodPoverty #FeministFriday #MenstrualHealth #NguvuChangeLeaders