Ending Period Poverty

Across northern Namibia, thousands of young girls face a challenge that often goes unnoticed: period poverty.

Lack of access to menstrual products, knowledge, and safe spaces to discuss menstruation affects school attendance, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Through RONA’s PledgeAPad initiative, we’ve worked tirelessly to address this issue, distributing pads and providing education to girls in Kavango East, Kavango West, Omusati, Zambezi, and Oshikoto.

RONA’s PledgeAPad Campaign was created for girls like her, girls who deserve dignity, understanding, and the chance to learn without interruption.

During our school visits, we did more than distribute sanitary pads.
We:

• held open conversations about menstrual hygiene
• taught girls how to track and understand their cycles
• created their first-ever safe space to ask questions
• addressed myths, stigma, and fears
• encouraged boys to join discussions where appropriate
• offered guidance on confidence, body positivity, and safety

For many, it was the first time they had access to pads and reliable information.

Ending period poverty is not just about providing pads, it’s about ensuring girls stay in school, stay healthy, and stay confident.

Because when a girl misses school every month, she loses opportunities every month.

When she has access to menstrual products and education, she gains:

• dignity
• safety
• confidence
• continuity in learning
• a stronger chance at completing school

And when girls thrive, communities thrive too.

When we ask girls what they dream of becoming, they answer with brilliance and clarity:
Nurses. Teachers. Engineers. Leaders.

Their dreams are bigger than their circumstances, all they need is the chance to stay in school long enough to pursue them.

RONA’s PledgeAPad Programme is a promise to these girls:
Your period will never be the reason you stay home, fall behind, or give up on your education.

And every time a girl receives a pack, learns something new about her body, or finds the courage to ask a question, we move one step closer to ending period poverty for good.