London SWANs Charity Appeal 2026: End Period Poverty

Supporting Dignity, Health, and Academic Success at Stellenbosch University Period poverty remains a widespread and urgent issue across South Africa. Every month, thousands of students face the impossible choice between buying essential menstrual products or covering other basic needs. For many, this means missing lectures, withdrawing from campus life, or resorting to unsafe alternatives such as tissue, cloth, or newspaper. The impact is profound. Research shows that young women across the country lose several days of school or university each month simply because they cannot access period products. This harms academic performance, erodes confidence, and limits long-term opportunities. At Stellenbosch University, we are changing this reality. The End Period Poverty Initiative is working to ensure that no student is held back by something as basic and unavoidable as menstruation. Through dedicated dispensing machines across campus, students can access menstrual products reliably, safely, and with dignity. No student should ever miss a lecture, a tutorial, or a lab because they cannot afford a pack of pads. Our Solution: Dignified Access Through Campus Dispensers We currently operate five menstrual product dispensing machines across campus, each providing convenient and discreet access to essential hygiene products. Each machine supports: • 8 pads per pack • 3 packs per student per month • 1,080 packs per machine → serving 360 students annually Each machine distributes 103,680 pads per year, ensuring consistent access for hundreds of students who rely on this support. These machines offer immediate, stigma-free access that allows students to stay focused on their learning and wellbeing. Funding Required To keep these machines stocked, serviced, and fully operational, we rely entirely on donor support: • Monthly servicing per machine: R 7,036 (£293) • Annual cost per machine: R 84,430 (£3,518) (Exchange rate: R24 = £1) You Can Make a Tangible Difference Every contribution directly supports the stocking and maintenance of one dispensing machine: • R 7,036 (£293) keeps one machine fully stocked for a month • R 84,430 (£3,518) funds a full year of access for one machine Even a small contribution matters. £10 can support a student’s access to menstrual products for the year. This is immediate impact felt by students who can stay in class, stay confident, and stay healthy. Our Goal The London SWANs are committed to funding one machine for a full year, ensuring that hundreds of students have reliable access to menstrual products. Our community target is £3,500, which will keep the machine stocked, serviced, and accessible for an entire year. Help Us End Period Poverty at Stellenbosch University Your support restores dignity. Your support keeps students in class. Your support changes futures. Together, we can ensure that no student’s education is interrupted by period poverty.