Breaking the Cycle of Period Poverty
Lucky Girl Pads is committed to ensuring every girl and woman has access to safe, affordable, eco-friendly, and high-quality disposable menstrual hygiene products, so that no period ever becomes a barrier to education, health, or dignity.
Gulu, Uganda
Every girl deserves to stay in school.
The Reality
1 in 10 girls in sub-Saharan Africa misses school during her period.
The Problem
A Monthly Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight
In Uganda, 60% of women and girls lack access to adequate menstrual supplies, causing many to miss about four days of school each month and affecting their performance, confidence, and future opportunities.
The challenge is more severe in Northern Uganda due to higher poverty levels, where limited affordability and weak support systems contribute to high dropout rates. This is not just a hygiene issue — it is an education, health, and equity crisis, marked by school absenteeism, unsafe coping methods, stigma, and long-term impacts on girls' academic and economic outcomes.
- Girls miss 4 school days per month
- Improvised solutions cause infections and discomfort
- Shame and stigma compound the physical challenge
- Long-term impact on academic performance and career
Our Approach
Four Pillars of Change
Health & Hygiene
Every pad is manufactured under strict quality control to guarantee safe, hygienic protection. No girl should compromise her health due to lack of access.
Education Continuity
Period poverty keeps thousands of girls out of school every month. We close that gap by ensuring a steady supply of disposable pads reaches those who need them most.
Community Empowerment
Local production creates jobs and keeps economic value within the community — turning a social challenge into an engine of local growth.
SRHR Education
We pair pad distribution with Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights education, equipping girls with the knowledge to own their bodies and their futures.
Locally Made
Produced in Gulu, reducing cost and creating local jobs.
Scalable Model
Designed to expand across districts as demand grows.
Budget Friendly
Ensuring high quality protection is affordable for all.
Our Solution
High-Quality Disposable Pads, Accessible to All
Lucky Girl Pads are locally manufactured disposable sanitary pads, quality-inspected and distributed at subsidised or no cost to girls and women who need them most.
By producing pads within the community, we lower costs, shorten supply chains, and ensure that quality disposable products reach schools and health centres on time, every time.
See the ProductCommunity Impact
Empowering Beyond the Product
Our solution goes beyond providing pads. By manufacturing Lucky Girl Pads locally in Gulu, we create a ripple effect of empowerment that transforms the entire community.
Local Job Creation
Our production facility is staffed by local women, providing dignified employment, fair wages, and technical skills training.
Economic Resilience
By sourcing and manufacturing locally, we keep economic value within the community, fostering long-term resilience.
Restoring Dignity
We eliminate the shame associated with period poverty, allowing girls to participate fully in school and community life.
Sustainable Change
Combining pads with SRHR education creates a lasting impact on the health and future of young women in Uganda.
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Girls & Women Reached
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Schools Served
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Districts Covered
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Quality Inspected
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Jobs Created
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Pads Distributed
Our Journey
How Far We've Come
Initiative Founded
VacNet, we launched the Lucky Girl Pads project in Gulu, Uganda, beginning with research and a pilot distribution in three schools.
Local Production Begins
A community manufacturing unit opened, creating dignified employment while dramatically reducing pad costs.
UNBS Approval
Our product was tested and approved by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), confirming the quality and safety of Lucky Girl Pads.
Regional Expansion
Distribution grew to 24+ schools across six districts, reaching over 62,500 girls and women.
Social Enterprise Registered & Launched
Lucky Girl Pads was formally registered and launched as a social enterprise, marking a new chapter in our mission to end period poverty.
SRHR Integration
Formal partnerships with local health authorities added menstrual health education to every distribution drive.
Take Action
Be Part of the Solution
Your support, whether through a purchase, donation, partnership, or simply by spreading the word, directly ensures more girls stay in school and more women live with dignity.
Our Partners
Backed by Organisations That Believe in Change
