Imagine being forced to miss school for a week every month—not because of illness, but because you don’t have access to something as basic as sanitary pads.

For millions of girls in South Africa, this is a harsh reality.

The Silent Crisis of Period Poverty

Access to sanitary products is something many take for granted, yet in South Africa, 7 million girls miss school every month due to period poverty – that’s one in every 10 girls missing a quarter of their school year.

Without proper menstrual products, many young girls resort to unsafe alternatives or stay home, falling behind in their studies. This not only affects their academic performance but also their confidence, mental well-being, and future career prospects.

The Crown Ethos of Giving Back

At Crown, we believe every child has the right to an education. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary throughout 2025, our global teams will be participating in the Crown Diamond Relay – a volunteering initiative designed to support two UN Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education and Climate Action.

Each country where Crown operates will be assigned a week to volunteer or fundraise for one of the selected UN Goals before passing the baton to the next country. The relay began on February 3rd in Japan and will continue in the order that Crown offices were established worldwide

How Crown Africa Coronets Are Making a Difference

Our Crown Africa Coronets—a community-focused initiative launched in 2023—are leading the charge in tackling period poverty with their #GirlDontSkipADay movement. Their mission is simple but powerful: to ensure no girl misses school because of her period.

Through previous fundraising efforts, they have already donated 230 sanitary pads to the Foundation for Special Needs Children & Youth Development Programme— this has supported 115 girls, but this is just the beginning.

Our team in South Africa will continue to support this initiative, doing their part to fight against period poverty.

How You Can Help

With the support of donors, our South African team can provide more girls with essential sanitary products, ensuring they can attend school without interruption.

Kate Noluthando, a member of the Crown Africa Coronets, shares: “Every contribution counts. Together, we can change the future for these girls. Together, we can ensure no girl has to skip a day of school because of her period.”