period Poverty activist Simran Sabib

Period poverty activist Simran Sahib with pupils at Winile Secondary School, Katlehong. Image: Simran Sahib.

Meet the teenager fighting to end period poverty

Period poverty activist Simran Sahib is on a mission to keep girls in school with the launch of her charity, The Legacy Gala

period Poverty activist Simran Sabib

Period poverty activist Simran Sahib with pupils at Winile Secondary School, Katlehong. Image: Simran Sahib.

Meet the 16-year-old girl who’s fighting period poverty in South Africa

A Johannesburg teenager, Simran Sahib is working to help end period poverty, a cause she thinks is in desperate need of global attention.

The 16-year-old is the founder of the Legacy Gala , an initiative raising awareness around the issue. The foundation is centred around an annual event which raises funds for sanitary pads to keep girls in school during their period.

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Sahib recently launched her foundation at the Marriot Hotel in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg on Saturday 24 September 2022.

She also wants to educate the fortunate about the challenges of menstruation in impoverished communities.

Period Poverty in South Africa

Millions of school-going girls are said to miss days of school because they don’t have sanitary pads or their equivalent. This lack of access period hygiene heightens the shame and stigma that comes with periods. Impoverished girls often opt to stay home to avoid embarrassing leaks and smells.

Period poverty affects up to 7 million South African girls who do not have access or cannot afford to buy sanitary products. An estimated 30% of South African schoolgirls are unable to attend class while on their period.

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Young and restless

Although she is still in high-school, Sahib uses much of her free time pursuing her passion for improving the lives of young girls.

Sahib, a part-time model, attends online school at Teneo which gives her time to pursue her many passions.

When she was just 11 years old she first became aware of period poverty when her older sister, Sahera Bisnath climbed mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness about it.

“The Legacy Gala is a coming together of young women as sisters, celebrating our rich South African heritage while creating a new legacy of empowerment. By drawing attention to ending period poverty, we can start to redefine the narrative of the girl child in South Africa and throughout the African continent.”

Period poverty activist Simran Sahib
Teen activist Simran Sahib poses with young girls who benefit from her charity, Legacy Gala on 24 September 2022 Image: Simran Sahib

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Sahib has held empowerment workshops for girls and boys from different backgrounds about what period poverty is and how it affects communities.

The workshops encourage peer mentoring and encourages participants to spread the awareness to their respective communities.

Despite the heavy issues she grapples with on a daily basis, Sahib has several interests like any teenager. Her hobbies include writing poetry and reading up on history and literature. She is also an avid playing softball player who values living life passionately and wholeheartedly.