Restoring Girls' Dignity: ABSA Bank Zambia donates K200,000 to End Menstrual Poverty
Menstrual poverty remains one of the most critical, yet often unseen, barriers to girls’ education in Zambia. For many young women, especially in rural areas, the inability to afford basic sanitary products or access clean facilities leads to shame, fear, and chronic absenteeism. The Ministry of Education's data reveals the devastating educational cost: inadequate Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) causes Zambian girls to miss at least 36 days of classes per year, disrupting their studies and contributing to the low completion rates, with 44% of girls dropping out before finishing secondary school.
It is this challenge that the Flow Fund Campaign seeks to combat. Operating under the wider umbrella of the 'Strong Girls Strong Zambia' initiative, the campaign is dedicated to tackling these systemic issues and providing a sustainable solution. The campaign’s ultimate goal is to raise K700,000 ($30,000 US Dollars) to ensure 5,000 girls receive the reusable sanitary towels they need to stay in school.
That goal took a major leap forward earlier on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, as Absa Bank Zambia officially handed over the K200,000 ($8,650 US Dollars) raised through the Absa Marathon to the #FlowFund Campaign. It was a monumental cheque that represented not just money, but a pathway back to dignity and consistent attendance for those students most at risk in Zambia’s remotest areas.
This K200,000 is a powerful investment, representing a major portion of the funding required to provide reusable sanitary towels to 5,000 girls residing in rural areas, which is the ultimate target of the campaign. For these students, the donation means the end of monthly absences that sabotage their studies and jeopardise their futures.
At the handover ceremony, Absa Bank Managing Director Mizinga Melu emphasised the urgency of the moment. She spoke with conviction, cutting directly to the heart of the matter.
"Menstrual poverty robs girls time to stay in school," she says.
Ms. Melu said Absa was committed to restoring that lost time and ensuring that every girl had an equal chance to learn and achieve her highest potential.
“Having lived in a humble reserved community with limited resources, I fully understand the challenges girls face in rural communities,” she says. “But we are here to change this generational challenge hindering girls' development.”
The ABSA Bank Managing Director further urged the public to freely talk about issues of menstrual poverty because it was a natural cause.
Meanwhile, World Vision Zambia National Director Marc Nosbach commended Absa for its dedication, highlighting the pivotal role the bank played in reaching the K200,000 commitment.
Nosbach noted that Absa had bravely matched the K100,000 initially raised by the marathon participants, effectively doubling the fundraising effort and cementing their commitment to the Flow Fund Campaign.
“This is partnership in action,” says Mr. Nosbach. “When organisations collaborate with purpose, the impact is swift and transformative.”
To learn more about the Flow Fund Campaign and how you can also play your part in any small way: THE FLOW FUND