South Africa: Boys Supporting Menstruation with Dignity

In the heart of Langa, a community marked by economic hardship and limited resources, a quiet revolution is taking place. The Leap Schools, built within disadvantaged communities to support youth interested in maths and science, have become the unlikely setting for a powerful shift in how menstruation is understood and supported—by boys. 

Nicole Fisher, fundraising and partnership manager for Leap Schools, was introduced to the New Heritage Foundation through a corporate partner. What began as a collaboration quickly evolved into a movement. The students at Leap, many raised by single parents or grandparents with little income, embraced the program with open hearts and minds. 

During one of the sessions, Nicole asked, “Do you give these lessons for mothers as well? Because I’ve learnt so much today.” That moment captured the essence of the program’s impact—not just on students, but on adults, educators, and the broader community. 

The change was visible and profound. 

Boys began bringing sanitary pads to school—not for themselves, but for the girls in their classrooms. They understood that uninterrupted education for girls was a matter of equality. They made reusable pads and proudly took them home for their mothers and sisters. Girls checked in on each other. Teachers welcomed the program, having witnessed the transformation in their students. 

“Thank you for your program, New Heritage Foundation,” said Eric Bafo, a single father. “I have learnt so much at your event and I hope to join more of these conversations. I walked away with so much knowledge, and I will share it with those I know who need it.” 

This change was made possible through the support of funders like Gender Links and the WVL Grant, who recognised the importance of ending period poverty. The New Heritage Foundation designed a program that was inclusive, informative, and transformative. Boys were not just passive participants—they were active allies. They engaged in discussions, asked questions, and expressed a desire to understand how bodies work and how they could support those who menstruate. 

“One would think that with all the money, resources and innovations of this modern age, something like period poverty would not exist. But it does,” said Dr. Alicia English, social entrepreneur and journalist. “Period poverty is another form of violence against the girl child. The intentional work of New Heritage Foundation among boys and girls to end period poverty in communities is needed now more than ever.” 

The evidence of change is everywhere. Boys are educating their families. One boy shared how he went home and told his sister he would buy her pads if she needed them. Another educated a grown man in a shopping mall, explaining that there is no shame in buying pads. 

“No young girl should be missing school because she cannot afford to buy a sanitary pad,” said Jazzara Jaslyn, filmmaker and actress. “Menstruation is not a luxury; it is not a choice: it is a natural part of being a woman. Sex is a choice, but condoms are free? Time is up. Let’s empower young women. Let’s end period poverty.” 

Looking ahead, the New Heritage Foundation is committed to sustaining and expanding this work. Plans include: 

• Securing more sustainable funding to continue distributing dignity bags. 
• Hosting awareness conversations online to normalise menstruation. 
• Organising networking events with partners. 
• Growing their social media presence. 
• Renaming the organisation to better reflect its mission. 
• Publishing a sexual and reproductive health book. 

This story is not just about pads or periods—it’s about dignity, empathy, and equality. It’s about boys becoming allies, educators, and leaders. It’s about communities coming together to support girls in ways that are practical, powerful, and lasting. In Langa, the future is being rewritten—one pad, one conversation, one boy at a time. 

By: Chantelle Goliath.