A Cape Town activist whose campaign against period poverty now spans 167 educational institutions has been recognized as an international finalist for the prestigious She Inspires Awards 2026 in the UK.
Lindsay Adams, founder and CEO of the organization #AgainstPeriodPoverty (#APP), became a finalist in the 'Agent of Change' category, taking the campaign, which began in the Westridge and Mitchells Plain areas, onto the global stage.
Adams shared that when she founded #AgainstPeriodPoverty in Westridge, Mitchells Plain, after witnessing young girls missing classes due to the inability to afford sanitary pads, there was no guidance at a global level. She emphasized that this reality existed and there was an urgent need to protect a child's right to education.
From Mitchells Plain to the Global Stage
Receiving recognition as an 'Agent of Change' demonstrated how the organization has transformed from a local initiative into a systemic movement aimed at restoring dignity, combating menstrual stigma, and promoting policy changes.
Currently, the organization provides mental health and hygiene education programs, as well as sanitary supplies, to schools in Cape Town and cities such as Worcester, Barrydale, Ladismith, Caledon, Malmesbury, and Robbe-Castle.
According to Adams, observations gathered through the organization have shown that period poverty is not just a hygiene issue, but an educational crisis. She noted that when a family has to choose between buying a loaf of bread or a pack of pads, the latter becomes a luxury item.
Adams also reported that some girls are forced to use old rags, newspapers, and socks when sanitary products are unavailable. The organization regularly encountered girls who missed several days of school each month due to menstruation, and the shame and anxiety associated with the lack of supplies could undermine their self-confidence and self-esteem.
Period Poverty is an Educational Crisis
Adams argues that a pad is much more than just a hygiene product; it is a tool for maintaining classroom presence. She stressed that they are not just distributing resources, but helping girls stay in school, restoring their dignity, and ensuring that a natural biological process never dictates a child's destiny.
Adams pointed out that cultural stigma remains one of the most serious obstacles, especially where menstruation is still viewed as something secret or shameful. She addressed young girls experiencing period poverty with the message that menstruation should never be a source of shame.
She assured them: 'Your period is a sign of health, strength, and life. It is not something you should apologize for or hide.'
Adams added: 'If you are sitting in class right now feeling anxious, or if you are staying home due to lack of access to sanitary products, know that you are not alone, and you have nothing to be ashamed of.'
Future Steps for the Campaign
She urged girls to seek help from trusted teachers, friends, or organizations and strongly advised them not to let period poverty define their future.
For Adams, international recognition is just another step in a much larger campaign. #APP is implementing student ambassadors in schools to create support networks and encourage open discussions about menstruation. Furthermore, the organization is launching vending machines for pads to ensure students have confidential and immediate access to free products.
The organization's long-term goal is to integrate mental health education into the national school curriculum and ultimately ensure the free provision of pads nationwide as an essential commodity. The She Inspires Awards ceremony is scheduled for November 18, 2026, in the UK.