"No girl should choose between her education and her health, and no woman should carry shame for something her body does naturally. Dignity is not an option; it is an inalienable right."
Where It All Began: Ebonyi State, 2017
In 2017, Queensley Agu was deployed for her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year in a rural community within Ebonyi State, Nigeria, where she taught high school biology. It was in that classroom that she witnessed the quiet crisis unfolding daily for adolescent girls.
After class hours, a brave group of young female students began gathering around her desk. Hesitant at first, they confided their fears and confusion about the biological changes happening within their bodies. Many had received zero prior menstrual education, had no access to clean sanitary pads, and were frequently missing days of school out of embarrassment and fear of staining their uniforms.
Recognizing that biological knowledge without empathy and resources left these young girls vulnerable, Queensley began organizing informal sensitization circles. She soon expanded these talks to two neighboring secondary schools in the state, personally purchasing and distributing hygiene kits while demystifying menstrual biology.
From Classroom Chats to a Cross-State Movement
Following her service year, Queensley returned to Port Harcourt to pursue her Master's degree. Driven by the indelible conversations she had shared with students in Ebonyi, she mobilized fellow university students, teachers, and healthcare professionals to host city-wide menstrual education workshops.
When the global COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020 and physical gatherings were restricted, Queensley refused to allow progress to stall. Recognizing that period poverty and domestic isolation were intensifying during lockdowns, she transitioned the sessions online, hosting video webinars and community WhatsApp counseling hotlines to continue answering questions and dispensing emotional support.
Today, what began as one teacher listening with an open heart has blossomed into the Queensley Development Initiative (QDI)—a registered nonprofit operating across Ebonyi, Rivers, and Delta States, having empowered roughly 5,000 girls and women with hygiene packages, clinical education, and ongoing counseling.
Queensley's Strategic Pillars
Direct Product Access
Ensuring emergency period kits and sanitary supplies are distributed directly into the hands of underprivileged students and rural communities.
Continuous Counseling
Supplies alone do not heal trauma. Queensley embeds psychosocial guidance, creating stigma-free listening circles for young girls.
Institutional Advocacy
Advocating with headteachers, community elders, and policymakers for functional school WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities.
Leadership Journey Timeline
The NYSC Biology Classroom in Ebonyi
Taught secondary biology and launched the first school-based reproductive hygiene chats after female students confided their struggles.
Port Harcourt Grassroots Outreaches
Rallied post-graduate volunteers in Rivers State, delivering menstrual hygiene packs and interactive workshops to underserved urban schools.
Digital Health Literacy & WhatsApp Support
Pioneered virtual counseling sessions and telephone helpline support during COVID lockdowns to counter rising domestic period poverty.
5,000+ Lives Impacted Across 3 States
Established structured volunteer hubs, clinical advisory partnerships, and expanded operations across Ebonyi, Rivers, and Delta States.
Invite Queensley to Speak or Partner with QDI
Interested in collaborating on menstrual hygiene campaigns, speaking at your institution, or supporting hygiene infrastructure projects across Africa?