Panties and Bras comes to the East
Project aims to help young girls who are in need of underwear.
Kwatsaduza – Panties & Bras for a purpose is expanding to help young girls in the far East Rand.
Florence Khoza, the founder of the campaign, says she has always tried to do her bit to contribute to the lives of others.
“It was in 2007 that I started organising graduates from the University of Pretoria and Tshwane University of Technology to help tutor learners in orphanages.
“In my engagement with the children I’ve always wanted to know what their basic needs were.”
She says in no time she started personally mentoring girls from different homes in Pretoria.
“One day I was meant to take a couple of girls out and suddenly one of them said she can’t go anymore.
“I insisted that she tell me what the problem is.”
Also read: Special need girls get sanitary pad donation
Flo says that after much persistence, the young girl finally opened up.
“She only had one pair of underwear and she realised that she had had an ‘accident’.
“So she couldn’t go because she didn’t have another pair of underwear to change into,” she adds.
When she realised what the problem was, she says she ran to the nearest clothing shop to get the girl underwear.
“The worst was yet to come.
“When I walked into the shared showers, I went past where they all hung their underwear. My heart dropped.”
Flo explains that the underwear most of the girls had was hanging on a thread.
“It hit me that we are giving these girls pads but we don’t even ask if they have proper underwear to keep the pad on.”
That is when she started reaching out to her friends and family to help collect panties and bras to donate to girls.
“The bras are equally important because some of the girls can’t even play sports or run around when playing because they have no breast support.”
Panties & Bras also uses the reach of social media to encourage others to donate.
“We have recently started working with schools instead of orphanages.
“That way we believe we can reach even more girls.”
Flo has recently selected Mpumi Mabena to be the organisation’s ambassador in the far East Rand.
“We share the same passion for children and I just love her heart.
“We can all do so much better to improve the lives of others.”
Also read: Donation brightens the day for young girls
The organisation has a few events scheduled for the East, but in the meantime, the public is urged to donate new underwear for girls between the ages of six and 18 years old.
“The drop-off box in Springs is at Auto Alphina Springs BMW.
“There will be more boxes put out soon. Just check our social media platforms,” she adds.
Follow them on Facebook and Twitter: Panties & Bras Campaign.
