{"id":296548,"date":"2026-02-24T12:00:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/?p=296548"},"modified":"2026-02-24T12:14:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:14:30","slug":"free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Free pads initiative to fight period poverty and support girls\u2019 education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

EASTERN CAPE <\/strong>– Thousands of schoolgirls across the Eastern Cape will receive free sanitary pads in a major initiative aimed at addressing period poverty and supporting girls\u2019 education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This initiative is aimed at learners in quintile 1 to 3 schools, including special schools and farm schools, where families often struggle to afford basic menstrual products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By providing sanitary pads at schools, the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development says it aims to improve school attendance and reduce the barriers caused by period poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement, Eastern Cape MEC for Social Development Bukiwe Fanta said over 269,000 schoolgirls will benefit from this initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products can lead to school absenteeism, with some girls missing up to a week of school each month,” she shared. “This not only affects their academic performance but can also have long-term implications for their futures.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme represents an annual investment of over R37 million and forms part of the provincial government\u2019s broader efforts to support vulnerable learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy creating a supportive environment where menstrual health is openly discussed, we are helping to break the stigma associated with menstruation,\u201d she added. “It is crucial that young girls understand their bodies, menstrual health and the importance of hygiene.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department has urged parents, educators and community members to assist in advocating for menstrual health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Conversations about menstruation should be normalised, allowing our girls to feel supported and empowered.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thousands of schoolgirls across the Eastern Cape will receive sanitary pads in a major initiative to address period poverty.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":296550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"1","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"1","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"0","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8413,1,7852],"tags":[9437,9438,91],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-296548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-news","category-school","tag-menstrual-health","tag-period-poverty-in-schools","tag-top"],"yoast_head":"\nSanitary pads initiative to combat period poverty in schools | PE Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find out how sanitary pads are being distributed to thousands of schoolgirls to help combat period poverty in the Eastern Cape.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Free pads initiative to fight period poverty and support girls\u2019 education\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Find out how sanitary pads are being distributed to thousands of schoolgirls to help combat period poverty in the Eastern Cape.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PE Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-24T10:00:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-24T10:14:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1460\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1459\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"PE Express\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@express_newspapers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@express_newspapers\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/46d3a3fe4ef03892348a907387c87ace\"},\"headline\":\"Free pads initiative to fight period poverty and support girls\u2019 education\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T10:00:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T10:14:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":245,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"menstrual health\",\"period poverty in schools\",\"Top\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Education\",\"News\",\"Schools\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/\",\"name\":\"Sanitary pads initiative to combat period poverty in schools | PE Express\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T10:00:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T10:14:30+00:00\",\"description\":\"Find out how sanitary pads are being distributed to thousands of schoolgirls to help combat period poverty in the Eastern Cape.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg\",\"width\":1460,\"height\":1459,\"caption\":\"Eastern Cape MEC for Social Development Bukiwe Fanta said the programme is about more than distributing pads.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Free pads initiative to fight period poverty and support girls\u2019 education\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/pe-express-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/pe-express-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"PE Express\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/PEExpress1\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/express_newspapers\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/express_newspapers\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@expressonline3000\\\/videos\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/46d3a3fe4ef03892348a907387c87ace\",\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png\",\"caption\":\"PE Express\"},\"description\":\"This is some test biographical information for PE Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/author\\\/peexpress\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Sanitary pads initiative to combat period poverty in schools | PE Express","description":"Find out how sanitary pads are being distributed to thousands of schoolgirls to help combat period poverty in the Eastern Cape.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Free pads initiative to fight period poverty and support girls\u2019 education","og_description":"Find out how sanitary pads are being distributed to thousands of schoolgirls to help combat period poverty in the Eastern Cape.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/","og_site_name":"PE Express","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","article_published_time":"2026-02-24T10:00:05+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-24T10:14:30+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1460,"height":1459,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"PE Express","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@express_newspapers","twitter_site":"@express_newspapers","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/"},"author":{"name":"PE Express","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/46d3a3fe4ef03892348a907387c87ace"},"headline":"Free pads initiative to fight period poverty and support girls\u2019 education","datePublished":"2026-02-24T10:00:05+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-24T10:14:30+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/"},"wordCount":245,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg","keywords":["menstrual health","period poverty in schools","Top"],"articleSection":["Education","News","Schools"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2026","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/","name":"Sanitary pads initiative to combat period poverty in schools | PE Express","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg","datePublished":"2026-02-24T10:00:05+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-24T10:14:30+00:00","description":"Find out how sanitary pads are being distributed to thousands of schoolgirls to help combat period poverty in the Eastern Cape.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg","width":1460,"height":1459,"caption":"Eastern Cape MEC for Social Development Bukiwe Fanta said the programme is about more than distributing pads."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/free-pads-initiative-to-fight-period-poverty-and-support-girls-education\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Free pads initiative to fight period poverty and support girls\u2019 education"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/","name":"PE Express","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization","name":"PE Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pe-express-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pe-express-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"PE Express"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","https:\/\/x.com\/express_newspapers","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/express_newspapers\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@expressonline3000\/videos"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/46d3a3fe4ef03892348a907387c87ace","name":"PE Express","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cropped-pe-express-site-icon-96x96.png","caption":"PE Express"},"description":"This is some test biographical information for PE Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/author\/peexpress\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/MEC-Fanta2.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":299006,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/kama-primary-learners-benefit-from-new-food-garden-in-new-brighton\/","url_meta":{"origin":296548,"position":0},"title":"Kama Primary learners benefit from new food garden in New Brighton","author":"Gugulethu Mtumane","date":"26 May 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Learners at Kama Primary School in New Brighton are set to benefit from a new food garden initiative aimed at tackling food insecurity in the Eastern Cape.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Cape Department of Education NSNP Director Pumla Gxuluwe, Kellogg\u2019s South Africa General Manager Philip Nieman, Suraya Hamdulay and Kama Primary School principal Armstrong Funde.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-26-at-16.14.38.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-26-at-16.14.38.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-26-at-16.14.38.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-26-at-16.14.38.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-26-at-16.14.38.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":298306,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/eastern-cape-teen-pregnancy-decline-under-scrutiny-amid-abuse-concerns\/","url_meta":{"origin":296548,"position":1},"title":"Eastern Cape teen pregnancy decline under scrutiny amid abuse concerns","author":"Natasha Bezuidenhout","date":"6 May 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"According to Childline SA in the Eastern Cape, teenage and child pregnancies remain driven by deep structural and social challenges.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"An investigation has been launched after a child drowned in a pit toilet.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dc4bd79fe57c41139cf867ee51290e69.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dc4bd79fe57c41139cf867ee51290e69.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dc4bd79fe57c41139cf867ee51290e69.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dc4bd79fe57c41139cf867ee51290e69.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dc4bd79fe57c41139cf867ee51290e69.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dc4bd79fe57c41139cf867ee51290e69.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":264050,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/ec-schools-selected-for-national-robotics-competition\/","url_meta":{"origin":296548,"position":2},"title":"EC schools selected for national robotics competition","author":"PE Express","date":"13 June 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A team of talented learners from eight Eastern Cape schools was selected to represent the province at the national robotics competition, scheduled to take place at the Yamaha Theatre in Sandton, Johannesburg, on June 16. The provincial champions, comprising students from Chapman, Gelvandale High School, Lawson Brown, Linkside, Paterson, St\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"These learners representing Chapman, Gelvandale High School, Lawson Brown, Linkside, Paterson, St James, St Thomas, and Uitenhage High School, are the provincial champions heading to the nationals in mid June.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WhatsAppImage2025-06_60644-e1749799886781.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WhatsAppImage2025-06_60644-e1749799886781.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WhatsAppImage2025-06_60644-e1749799886781.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WhatsAppImage2025-06_60644-e1749799886781.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WhatsAppImage2025-06_60644-e1749799886781.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":295587,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/more-than-800-eastern-cape-learners-unplaced-for-academic-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":296548,"position":3},"title":"More than 800 Eastern Cape learners unplaced for academic year","author":"PE Express","date":"9 January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Eastern Cape Department of Education has revealed that 849 learners remain unplaced across four districts for the 2026 academic year.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"More than 800 learners across the Eastern Cape remain unplaced.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/school-classroom-AI.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/school-classroom-AI.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/school-classroom-AI.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/school-classroom-AI.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/school-classroom-AI.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/school-classroom-AI.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":298201,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/thousands-of-eastern-cape-learners-miss-school-amid-scholar-transport-disruption\/","url_meta":{"origin":296548,"position":4},"title":"Thousands of Eastern Cape learners miss school amid scholar transport disruption","author":"PE Express","date":"30 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Eastern Cape Department of Education says over 12,000 learners missed school due to scholar transport disruptions linked to a Santaco protest.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The withdrawal of scholar transport services by operators over unpaid fees affected over 12 000 learners.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/scholar-transport-pic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/scholar-transport-pic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/scholar-transport-pic.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/scholar-transport-pic.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":266510,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/icons-journey-marathon-returns-to-ec-for-mandela-month\/","url_meta":{"origin":296548,"position":5},"title":"Icons\u2019 Journey Marathon returns to EC for Mandela Month","author":"Mthatha Express","date":"10 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The founder of the Icon's Journey Marathon, Nkosi Vulithuba Sangoni, recently hosted a media launch at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha to outline preparations for the upcoming marathon, which takes place during Mandela Month (July). Sangoni announced that all eyes will be on the Eastern Cape as the Icon's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_8903_33928.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_8903_33928.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_8903_33928.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_8903_33928.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_8903_33928.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"PE Express","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/296548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=296548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/296548\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/296550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=296548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=296548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=296548"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=296548"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=296548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}