Acclaimed South African singer-songwriter and Miss South Africa 2026 Top 24 contestant, Azana, has opened up about her deeply personal childhood battle with period poverty—revealing that as a young girl, she had to craft her own makeshift sanitary pads out of old socks and fabric because her family could not afford basic menstrual products.
Sharing her story in partnership with her non-profit organization, The Makhosazana Foundation, Azana is using her national platform to shed light on a crisis that continues to rob thousands of young South African schoolgirls of their education and confidence.
The Reality of Period Poverty in South Africa
Recalling the desperate measures she took to avoid leaking at school, Azana shared:
“I learned how to make my own pads when I was younger… I would take an old sock and stuff it with material inside to ensure that I avoid leakage throughout the day… Of course, there was going to be spillage sometimes, and I realised that actually a lot of schoolgirls are going through that right now.”
Research shows that approximately 1 in 4 girls (up to 30%) in South Africa miss school every month simply because they lack access to sanitary pads. This loss of learning hours creates severe educational inequality and harms self-esteem.
Advocating for Dignity and Reform
Through The Makhosazana Foundation, Azana is advocating for expanded access to free sanitary products in schools, stronger community support networks, and an end to the social stigma surrounding menstruation.
“Period poverty remains one of the most significant yet often overlooked barriers to education in South Africa,” Azana stated. “Every girl deserves the opportunity to attend school with dignity, confidence, and the resources she needs to reach her full potential.”
