Cape Town period poverty activist takes grassroots to global stage

A Cape Town activist, Lindsay Adams, is making waves on the global stage after her grassroots campaign against period poverty expanded to support 167 schools. Adams founded and leads the organization #AgainstPeriodPoverty (#APP), which has now been recognized as an international finalist for the prestigious She Inspires Awards 2026 in the UK.

When Adams launched #APP in Westridge, Mitchells Plain, she aimed to tackle the issue of girls missing school due to a lack of affordable sanitary pads. However, she soon realized that the campaign needed to evolve into a systemic movement addressing menstrual health and stigma.

Now, #APP provides ongoing education and sanitary products to schools across Cape Town and neighboring towns, addressing period poverty as both an educational crisis and a humiliation issue. Adams highlights that girls often resort to using unsanitary materials like old rags, newspapers, or socks when products are unavailable.

The organization frequently encounters girls missing school due to menstruation, which can damage their confidence and self-esteem. Adams emphasizes that a sanitary pad is crucial for classroom retention and that period poverty should never dictate a child's education.

Cultural stigma remains the biggest barrier, particularly in societies where menstruation is still viewed as secret or shameful. Adams encourages girls experiencing period poverty to know that they are not alone and urges them to seek help from trusted teachers, friends, or organizations.

Looking ahead, #APP plans to introduce student ambassadors, install sanitary pad vending machines, and integrate menstrual health education into the national school curriculum. The ultimate goal is to make sanitary pads free across the country, ensuring that no girl is held back by a natural biological process. The She Inspires Awards ceremony will take place in the UK on November 18, 2026.