A foundation built so that her health is finally counted.
Elle International is a South African public benefit organisation, founded in 2017, dedicated to closing the Women’s Health Gap across Africa — one product, classroom, clinic and dataset at a time.
We started with menstrual health. We’re building toward all of women’s health.
Elle International was founded out of the need to empower young women in South Africa, with a primary focus on menstrual and reproductive health. But the problem we found was bigger than products.
Throughout the region, women’s health remains a taboo subject — leading to misinformation, shame and exclusion. Girls miss school. Conditions go undiagnosed. And because women’s health is under-researched, it stays under-funded, in a cycle that keeps repeating.
Our work is to break that cycle: normalise women’s health, integrate it into everyday life, and make sure women are given the care — and the dignity — they deserve.
At a glance
Founded
2017, South Africa
Registered name
Elle International NPC
Status
Public Benefit Organisation · PBO 930062033
Focus
Menstrual & reproductive health · women’s health data
Reach
160,000+ women & girls across Africa
Aligned to
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Mission
Advance access to safe, sustainable and affordable solutions for women’s health, while empowering women through education and socio-economic inclusion.
Vision
A world where no woman’s health, education or livelihood is limited by her biology — and where South Africa leads the global women’s-health ecosystem.
Values
Dignity first. Evidence always. Solutions that are sustainable, scalable and built with the women they serve — never for them alone.
Chelsea Anne Hornby
At 23, Chelsea invested her savings of $27,000 to start Elle International — a nonprofit aimed at destigmatising menstruation and getting reusable period products to underprivileged schoolgirls. A decade of work alongside women and girls in under-resourced communities has shaped Elle International’s holistic, scalable model.
Today she leads Elle International’s mission to establish South Africa as a leader in the global women’s-health ecosystem — at the convergence of health, technology and economic opportunity.
“Through innovation and collaboration, we can bridge the gaps in women’s health — so every woman can lead a healthier life.”
From one menstrual cup to a women’s-health movement.
Elle International is founded
ElleCup launches in South Africa — a body-safe, reusable menstrual cup, paired with a Buy One, Give One model to reach girls who can’t afford period care.
Education at the centre
Workshops scale across schools and communities. Programs show a 50% rise in attendance during menstruation and a marked lift in girls’ confidence.
Recognised for impact
Elle International receives the Empire Partner Foundation Tech Award for Leadership & Community Building, and joins the Rockefeller Big Bets Community.
Onto the world stage
Named to the Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst list and selected for MIT Solve’s Global Health Challenge. Elle International commits to the ITU Partner2Connect digital coalition.
Closing the gap, at scale
Expanding from menstrual care into reproductive health, diagnostics and data — through InsideHer, IWHF and our digital platforms.
A team of South African leaders, years in the making
Led by founder & CEO Chelsea Anne Hornby, Elle International brings together expertise across health, science, technology, education and community — united by one belief: women’s health is everyone’s business.
Full team & board details available on request — get in touch.
Backed, recognised and partnered by leading institutions
Elle International’s work has been recognised, supported and featured by global organisations across health, technology, philanthropy and media.
New EconomyCatalyst List
FoundationBig Bets Community
ConnectorECHAlliance
FoundationTech Award