ZuluElihle Foundation donates sanitary pads to schools

Duduza – Edalincebo and Roseview primary school learners received sanitary towel packs from the ZuluElihle Foundation on June 3.

Zanele Ngcizinathi (24) founded the NPO in 2019. It focuses on providing sanitary towels to school girls.
Ngcizinathi said she started the initiative to empower girls.

“Our goal is to help unfortunate young girls from various schools in the community by donating packs of pads.

The aim is primarily to give back to the community, especially the girls.

“It’s easy to take things like sanitary pads for granted. However, for many girls, this basic need remains a luxury. Hearing stories of how young girls struggle without sanitary pads is always overwhelming.

“However, these stories inspired me to want to do more, so I will continue trying as much as I can to help. I do not work alone but with a team and the community when possible.

“We get donations from the public occasionally, but if there are no donations gathered from them, we buy as many pads as we can from our own pockets.

“Our organisation is in Tsakani, but because we have donated pads to all the schools in the area, we have decided to branch out to other schools in Kwatsaduza,” she said.

Ngcizinathi said they donate sanitary towels to Grades Six and Seven learners.

“Most Grades Six and Seven learners have already started their periods. It is important we give them a helping hand with sanitary towels where possible.

“It is equally important to teach and prepare those who have not started their journey to be well-informed for when the time comes.

“Periods are a natural route each woman has to undergo. We try to make the journey less scary,” said Ngcizinathi.

The foundation donated 231 sanitary towels to the two schools in Duduza. They also let the learners share their experiences of how they started their periods.

“We allow the learners to share their experiences with other learners to enable a comfortable line of conversation between us and them.

“These experiences allow the learners to raise questions and prepare the next learner for the journey ahead,” said Ngcizinathi.

School principal Mary Ncokwane said such initiatives play a significant role in the lives of the learners who receive pads.

“Most of our learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds. They are often too afraid to ask the teachers for help with sanitary towels. These initiatives assist those in need who do not reach out for help.

“I am truly grateful for these donations. They uplift our learners’ spirits,” said Ncokwane.

The foundation is open to donations. For enquiries and contributions, call Ngcizinathi on 079 276 7477.