Africa-Press – Eswatini. Standard Bank Eswatini has donated 1 000 dignity packs worth E218 600 to the BAWSS Foundation, providing under-resourced high school girls with essential menstrual hygiene products to help reduce absenteeism and boost confidence. The handover, held today 3 November 2025, brought together Standard Bank and BAWSS management, to highlight the urgent need for menstrual health support in schools across the country.
Each dignity pack contains sanitary pads, soap, deodorant, and other hygiene essentials,simple items with a profound impact. According to BAWSS Founder Anele Shabangu, many girls in Eswatini resort to unhygienic alternatives such as using cow dung or socks, which can lead to infections and force them to miss school. “Some girls go to school using socks for a day, then wash them, and the next day they stay home because the socks are still drying,” Shabangu said.
Period poverty remains a persistent barrier to education in Southern Africa. UNICEF and WHO reports from 2024 indicate that one in ten school-age girls in Africa misses school during menstruation,not due to lack of ability, but because of insufficient access to sanitary products and private, hygienic facilities. Absenteeism affects learning, confidence, and long-term opportunities, particularly for adolescent girls.
Speaking at the handover, Standard Bank’s Head of People & Culture Bongiwe Hlophe emphasized that dignity extends beyond hygiene. “Dignity is a girl staying in class because she has what she needs. It’s her raising her hand without fear. It’s her participating in sports, science labs, debates, and leadership roles throughout the month,” she said.
The donation aligns with Standard Bank’s broader commitment to youth development and inclusive growth in Eswatini. Beyond menstrual products, the bank supports mentorship programs, skills development, and education partnerships, aiming to unlock potential and create opportunities for young people.
Hlophe highlighted the wider impact of menstrual health interventions, noting that when girls stay in school, completion rates rise, early marriage and pregnancy risks fall, and lifetime earnings increase. Communities benefit from better health practices, and the economy gains a more skilled workforce. These outcomes contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
“Dignity packs are small parcels with a big promise,” Hlophe concluded. “They say to a girl: we see you, we respect you, and we want to invest in your success. They say to a community: when we rally behind our girls, everyone moves forward. And they say to our country: the fastest way to unlock growth is to remove barriers that hold our young people back.”
By providing 1,000 dignity packs, Standard Bank is addressing a tangible barrier to girls’ education, sending a clear message that menstruation should never be a reason to step back from learning or leadership. The initiative demonstrates how targeted corporate social investment can empower young women, improve attendance, and strengthen the future of communities in Eswatini.
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