The 1World Community Radio Program · Andy Gladding

1World Radio Episode 97 - March 31 2026 - Zizi Ntobongwana

March 30, 2026·57 min·5 clips

Zizi Dobogwana found no ingredient label on her tampon box, launching her quest to transform menstrual health.

The episode begins with introductions from hosts across global community radio stations, emphasizing the show's focus on radio's power in connecting cultures. Ricky Hubert welcomes guest Zizi Dobogwana to discuss sustainability, menstrual health, and impact. Zizi recounts the origin story of Sheba Feminine: while on her period without a phone, she read a tampon box and realized it had no ingredient label, sparking her investigation into the menstrual product industry. She describes her long research process, including time in the UK and Southern Africa, before deciding to create an alternative. The conversation shifts to cultural taboos, with Zizi explaining how euphemisms for body parts in South Africa stifle open discussions about reproductive health and consent. She details Sheba's evolution from disposable organic cotton products to reusable options like menstrual cups, driven by context and community feedback. Zizi highlights the Pay for Pals Pads program, which combines product donations with workshops in underserved schools, revealing girls' hunger for sexual health education. She addresses period poverty as the inability to access menstrual products due to cost, framing it as a rights issue. The discussion covers generational differences, with younger South Africans pushing for more open conversations compared to older generations accustomed to stigma. Zizi shares her experience as a Mandela Washington Fellow and recipient of a Global Citizen X PayPal Impact Award, which expanded her reach. She connects her passion for sustainability to African philosophies like Ubuntu, arguing that sustainability has always been part of African life through community and respect for nature. Zizi explains Sheba's use of biodegradable materials like organic cotton and bamboo to minimize environmental impact. In closing, she encourages courage in innovation and emphasizes considering others in decision-making for a better world.

As heard by us

A patient community-radio conversation about period poverty, education, and young people pushing for more than basic access.

This community-radio conversation moves through period poverty, reproductive and sexual health, and the effort to make room for young people to ask questions without hesitation. The plainspoken tone fits the subject.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a calm, practical community-radio conversation about period poverty and reproductive and sexual health in South Africa.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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