About the Programme

Period poverty is one of the least discussed but most damaging forms of poverty affecting girls and women in South Africa. When a girl cannot afford sanitary products, she is forced to make impossible choices — and too often, school is the price she pays.

JCK Life Changers runs the Sanitary Dignity Drive to provide free sanitary products to schoolgirls and women in need across Mamelodi. We do this without shame and without judgement, because dignity is not a luxury — it is a right.

Who We Serve

• Schoolgirls in Mamelodi who cannot afford menstrual products
• Women in low-income households facing period poverty
• Girls at risk of school dropout due to menstrual challenges
• Women in partnership with our Prison Programme (see separate page)

What We Provide

• Sanitary pads and tampons
• Feminine hygiene wash and wipes
• Underwear where needed
• Menstrual health education
• Safe, discreet, and shame-free distribution

The Crisis We're Addressing

The numbers are stark: 1 in 10 South African schoolgirls misses school or drops out entirely because they lack access to menstrual products. This accounts for up to 20% of the academic year — lost to a problem that costs less than a loaf of bread to solve.

When girls miss school, they fall behind. When they fall behind, they lose confidence. When they lose confidence, they stop attending. What begins as period poverty can end as a lost future. JCK Life Changers is determined to break this cycle.

Education Alongside Supply

We do not only distribute products — we also share menstrual health information to reduce shame and stigma. Many girls grow up without accurate information about their own bodies. Our volunteers engage sensitively and respectfully, creating space for questions and honest conversation. Knowledge is dignity too.