– BY RUBY DE BRUIJN –
Do you remember when you first got your period? I do. It was on my fourteenth birthday. The week before I had a lot of cramps, but I didn’t think much of it. When I got my period that day, though, a lot of thoughts ran through my head. However, fear and shame were never one of them.
I remember that after I let it sink in a little, I called for my mom. She immediately handed me pads, showed me how to use them, and told me when to change them. Even tough I considered my first period a minor setback, which I’d have preferred not to have happened on my birthday, I was still able to go on with my day and have an amazing birthday. Not having the right sanitary products, education about reproductive health, or support system, is something I fortunately never have had to worry about. However, there are a lot of girls who don’t have this kind of menarche experience and who do have to worry about these things.
Period poverty in South Africa
In South Africa, there are 7 million girls who menstruate without dignity. This means that these girls don’t have access to the right menstrual products, they don’t have (the right) education about reproductive health, and they don’t have a support system. Three in ten girls miss out on school due to lack of sanitary pads. Girls also drop out because they face abuse, shame, stigma and social taboo. They often resort to unhygienic methods, such as using toilet paper and newspapers. These practices have a negative effect on the reproductive health system on the long term. In some cases, girls perform sexual favours for money in order to buy sanitary pads.
Making an impact
I’ve decided that I can no longer be ignorant, and I want to help where I can. This August (2024), I left everything behind and flew to South-Africa, on my own. For the next five months I’ll be interning with the New Heritage Foundation in Cape Town. Their aim is to end period poverty. I want to use my time here as impactful as possible. Currently, the New Heritage Foundation is running the She Matters campaign, which I’m the face of. During this campaign we aim to reach 500 girls, and provide them with a hygiene pack. This pack will include sanitary pads (disposable and reusable), as well as hygiene products such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.
The goal is that in the October and November this year, we’ll be able to equip at least South-African 500 girls with these menstrual starter packs. During the months of December and January, schools close and girls stay home, which often isn’t the safest and most hygienic environment. Not only do we want to reach 500 girls with packs; we also want to provide 200 schools and seven communities with menstrual pads, so that these products are more accessible for the girls.
No girl left behind
Menstruating without dignity doesn’t only indicate menstruating without the right sanitary products. It also indicates the lack of confidence these girls have. They often feel ashamed or gross as they are made fun of. They miss out on opportunities and don’t believe in their own potential. That is also something we want to change. Through empowering these girls, we try to encourage them to believe in themselves and their abilities. We hope for a future in which girls menstruate WITH dignity, believe in themselves, and live up to their full potential. And no girl should be left behind. If you’re interested in following my journey or are curious about the New Heritage Foundation, have a look on their Instagram.
About author: Ruby de Bruijn is a 20 years old Dutch International Business student. She decided to make a difference and left the Netherlands for an internship at the New Heritage Foundation in Cape Town (South Africa). Currently, she’s the face of the She Matters campaign and is pictured in all the photos above.
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Need some inspiration?
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Let’s teach everyone about menstruation, by Maggie di Sanza
Not so divine secrets of the Bullwinkle Sisterhood, by Mary Novaria
A ritual for mothers and daughters, by Tessa Custers
A time for celebration, by Robyn Jones
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