“I don’t miss school anymore because I know I’m covered.”
At just 14 years old, Rofiat already knew what it meant to make hard choices. Every month, she had to choose between showing up at school or staying home in pain, afraid of bleeding through her uniform or being laughed at by her classmates.
“I used to dread my period,” she shared quietly. “Sometimes I didn’t have pads, and I didn’t want to stain my clothes. It was easier to just stay home.”
She’s one of thousands of girls in Nigeria who miss school during their periods not because they don’t want to learn, but because they don’t have what they need to feel safe, supported, or confident.
When we met Rofiat during one of our menstrual health workshops, she sat quietly at the back of the class, eyes focused but unsure. She was attentive, but hesitant like she was still deciding whether to trust the space we were trying to create.
That changed the moment we introduced the Savvy Period Pad Box.
The Pad Box is more than a container of sanitary pads and pain relief to us. It’s a visible, accessible symbol of care. It’s a message that says: “We thought about you. We see you. We want you to succeed even during your period.” It’s a simple box stocked with pads and pain relief medicine. But to girls like Rofiat, it’s more than that. It’s a lifeline. A reason to show up.
Rofiat’s eyes lit up when she saw it.
“I almost cried the first time I used it,” she told us later. “It felt like someone finally understood what we go through.”
Since then, Rofiat hasn’t missed school once during her period. She now walks into class with more confidence knowing that if she ever needs a pad, she has a place to go without shame. And if cramps hit, there’s medicine available to ease the pain.
But it’s not just the physical products that changed her life—it’s the message behind them.
“That box saved me from shame,” Rofiat says. “It helped me show up.”
“I don’t miss school anymore because I know I’m covered,” she said.
And that’s what our work at For Savvy Girls (FSG) is all about. We’re not just handing out pads. We’re building safety. Dignity. Confidence. We’re saying to every girl like Rofiat: “You deserve to be in school. You deserve to be supported. You deserve to be here.”
Let’s Keep More Girls in School
Rofiat’s story isn’t unique but it should be celebrated. It represents what’s possible when we listen, respond, and invest in girls’ needs beyond just access.
There are still so many girls waiting for their “Pad Box Moment” that moment where shame is replaced with support, and silence gives way to confidence.
You can help make that happen.
👉🏽 Support our work.
👉🏽 Donate to keep Savvy Period Pad Boxes stocked in schools.
👉🏽 Share this story to show the world what period dignity really looks like.
Because when girls are supported, they show up.
And when they show up, they thrive.
To donate to our work, please send us an email – forsavvygirls@gmail.com
To follow our work in Nigeria, sign up to our mailing list or follow us on Instagram @fsg.empowerment