The Middflow Project · Lived experiences
When getting menstrual products depends on asking someone for permission.
For five girls, access to menstrual products is not simply a matter of whether products are available in the place where they live.
They have to please the matron or caregivers before they are given three pads.
Three pads.
When those pads run out, the process starts again. They must once more seek approval and ask to be given what they need.
This experience raises questions about the difference between having menstrual products somewhere on site and having dependable access to them when they are needed.
When access is conditional on pleasing someone, the process can place an additional burden on girls who are already managing the practical and personal realities of menstruation.
What their experience asks us to consider
Reliable menstrual health access requires more than stocking products. It also requires thoughtful distribution arrangements, adequate supplies and a process that respects the dignity of the people who need them.
Help make practical support possible
The Middflow Project is raising R30,000 to provide 50 women with menstrual products and personal-care essentials for five months.
R120 is the average monthly support allocation per woman. It is an average, not a fixed amount for every individual. Allocations may vary according to need.
Every contribution helps move the appeal forward. You can also share it with someone who may be able to help.
Contribute to the appeal Back to CommunityThe Five Girls is a pseudonymous account. Identifying details have been withheld to protect the girls and the institution concerned. Publication is subject to appropriate consent and safeguarding review.
The Middflow Project · NPO 292-415 · Equity by Design.
