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Her DignityInitiative
A Her Dignity Initiative programme


A school-based menstrual-product access pilot in Nigeria

5 secondary schools~1,500 girls100% free access
Become a founding partnerWhy it exists
No paymentNo registrationNo explanation needed
Executive summary

Period Dignity will provide free, discreet access to sanitary pads through wall-mounted free-vend dispensers, supported by covered disposal facilities, school-level menstrual-health information, replenishment and monitoring.

We are deliberately starting with five schools so the model can be tested, measured and improved before wider expansion.

The dispenser is not the impact by itself. It is the infrastructure that makes product access more reliable and discreet.

5

secondary schools

1,500

girls, approximately

5

free-vend dispensers

100%

free: no coin, payment or registration

Why this project exists

Francisca Nwamaka Akujobi

Founder, The Her Dignity Initiative

As a young student, I once unexpectedly started my period at school during a time when I had a very heavy flow. My light-blue school uniform became visibly stained before I realised what had happened.

I remember rushing to the bathroom, trying to manage the stain with water because there was no soap, and having no sanitary pad available. Tissue was not a practical solution. I was deeply embarrassed and anxious about other students seeing the stain, particularly the boys.

Fortunately, I had a cardigan I could tie around my waist, but I still had to remain in school feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious. That experience stayed with me. It made me think about what happens when a girl gets her period at school and simply does not have access to the product she needs.

The founder's experience provides the motivation, but Period Dignity is designed as a practical intervention rather than a personal story alone: a repeatable school-based system that reduces the chance a girl will be left without a menstrual product during the school day.
The challenge

01

A period can begin unexpectedly during the school day.

02

A girl may not have a sanitary pad with her, or feel comfortable asking publicly for one.

03

Improvising with tissue or other materials can be inadequate and distressing.

04

The immediate problem is practical, but the emotional impact can include embarrassment, anxiety and loss of confidence.

So we focus on reliable, discreet access, not one-off distribution alone.

The Period Dignity response

Access

Free menstrual products available at the point of need.

Dignity

No payment, registration or public explanation required.

Infrastructure

A dispenser remains in the school and can be restocked.

Measurement

Track stock, usage, stock-outs, faults and school feedback.

Learning

Use the five-school pilot to refine the model before expansion.

Each school has one dispenser in a suitable, private and accessible washroom area. Final placement and product format are agreed with each school.
Five-school pilot

School 1
School 2
School 3
School 4
School 5

~1,500 girls across participating schools

1 dispenser + 1 covered disposal solution per school

Schools

5 secondary schools

Reach

Approximately 1,500 girls across participating schools

Dispensers

1 free-vend dispenser per school; 5 units total

Products

Primarily sanitary pads; final specification selected after compatibility and local-sourcing review

Disposal

1 covered sanitary disposal solution per school

Education

School-level menstrual-health information and practical guidance

Monitoring

Stock levels, usage, stock-outs, faults, replenishment and school feedback

Access model

100% free; no coin, payment or registration

Equipment options

The founder has observed a free-vend period-product dispenser in use at a public institution in Dublin, giving the project a relevant Irish reference option alongside two other published models.

MeritaCare Single Freevend

€350 + VAT

Mechanism
Mechanical
Capacity
Up to 100 pads + 200 tampons; single-item dispensing

Highest published capacity of the three. Shipping and compatibility for Nigeria to be quoted.

Minivend

€320 ex VAT

Mechanism
Manual
Capacity
15 packs + 12 packs; standard-size packs

Lowest published purchase price. No batteries or wiring needed.

Initial In-Cubicle Mini Free Vend

Quote required

Mechanism
Free-vend
Capacity
Up to 9 sanitary-pad packs + 12 tampon packs; sealed packs

A strong Irish reference option, observed in use in Dublin. Purchase and export price to be confirmed.

Published prices reviewed October 2026 and exclude some or all VAT, shipping and destination-country costs. Suitability for Nigerian school use, product compatibility, freight, customs, taxes and installation will be confirmed by formal quotations.
Preliminary budget

Fundraising planning allowances for the first phase, so prospective partners can see exactly where support would go.

Indicative fundraising target

€10,900–€13,950

Initial stock and replenishment, implementation and monitoring.

Planning allowances, not supplier quotations. The final target will be set once suppliers, a freight provider and a Nigerian clearing agent provide formal quotes.

Lower estimate Upper estimate3-month pilot

  • 5 free-vend dispensers

    €1,600–€1,750

    Excludes VAT. Based on published Minivend (€320) and MeritaCare (€350) prices; Initial price pending

  • Sanitary-pad stock + replenishment

    €5,000–€6,000

    Final quantity depends on school usage and selected product

  • Freight, insurance & handling

    €1,000–€1,500

    Freight quote for Nigeria to be obtained

  • Import, clearance & local logistics

    €800–€1,200

    Subject to final classification and clearing-agent quote

  • Installation, fixtures & signage

    €500–€700

    Across five schools

  • Disposal bins + hygiene supplies

    €300–€500

    One covered disposal solution per school plus basic supplies

  • Orientation & menstrual-health information

    €300–€500

    Materials and local implementation support

  • Monitoring & reporting

    €400–€600

    Baseline, stock tracking, school feedback and final report

  • Contingency

    €1,000–€1,200

    Buffer for pilot uncertainty

Implementation approach

Every stage is designed so the pilot produces evidence, not just installations.
  1. 01

    Partner & school selection

    Confirm five schools, local implementation contacts and safeguarding requirements.

  2. 02

    Procurement

    Obtain final quotes, confirm dispenser and product compatibility, and agree the shipping and customs route.

  3. 03

    Installation

    Secure dispensers and disposal facilities in agreed washroom locations.

  4. 04

    Stocking

    Load initial product stock and establish a named school stock-check responsibility.

  5. 05

    Orientation

    Provide practical information to relevant school staff and students.

  6. 06

    Monitoring

    Track usage, stock-outs, faults, replenishment and feedback.

  7. 07

    Review

    Produce a pilot report with results, lessons, costs and recommendations for scale.

Measuring success

A successful pilot should show that products remain available, the equipment works in the school environment, replenishment can be managed, and schools see value in the model.

  • 5 schools equipped with a free-vend menstrual-product dispenser

  • Approximately 1,500 girls within the participating school population

  • Products available throughout the pilot period, with stock-outs monitored

  • Dispenser faults and repair or replacement needs recorded

  • Replenishment frequency and product consumption tracked

  • School feedback collected

  • Cost per girl reached, and lessons for scale, documented

Partnership opportunities

Contribution levels are illustrative rather than fixed packages. We welcome full or partial sponsorship, and partnerships that reduce the cost of delivering the pilot.

Product Partner

€250+

Sanitary pads and replenishment

Machine Partner

€320–€350+

One dispenser before VAT and logistics, depending on model

School Partner

€2,500–€3,000+

A substantial share of one school's equipment, stock and implementation

Pilot Partner

€5,000+

A significant share of the five-school pilot

Lead Partner

€10,000+

A major contribution toward launching all five schools

You can also support through

Product donationsLogisticsCommunicationsMonitoringSchool implementationIntroductions to Nigerian education and community networks
Request partnership detailsTalk to the founder
Risk management

Open each risk to see how the pilot is designed to manage it.

  • Mitigation: Test the exact pad pack dimensions and dispenser configuration before bulk procurement.

Sustainability & potential scale

The pilot will test

Local product sourcing

School stock management

Dispenser durability

The true recurring cost

We are seeking founding partners to establish the five-school pilot. Support can fund equipment, menstrual products, logistics, installation, disposal facilities, education and monitoring.

Get involvedTalk to us