Rokhaya, Haajar and Seher's Story

In 2023, Rokhaya, Haajar and Seher from Shireland Collegiate Academy created Sanitary while studying our App for Social Action course when they were 13 years old. Their app aimed to address period poverty among women and girls in the UK — an issue the team empathised with..

Sanitary targeted those who struggle to afford sanitary products, a challenge that can force students to miss school or resort to unsafe alternatives. The app provides dignity, accessibility, and anonymity, connecting users with nearby participating retailers or pharmacies via location services.

After logging in, users receive a unique barcode, which can be shown at the till to collect free sanitary products. Purchases are tracked and reimbursed through affiliated charities, making the process simple and discreet. For example, a user could walk into a local shop, scan their barcode, and leave with what they need, no questions asked.

Sanitary was shortisted during our 2023 Showcase and won the People’s Choice Award, reflecting both its real-world relevance and potential for impact. The team had hopes to expand the app into a broader wellbeing platform, including self-care guidance, educational resources, and community engagement tools.

Through the course, Rokhaya, Haajar and Seher developed technical skills, as well as confidence in presenting and problem-solving. They said, "We are young, enthusiastic, and passionate about our app. We have started with an idea but have so many thoughts on how this can expand to tackle the wider issue of females accessing essential products".