Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss has handed over R50 000 to the Procter & Gamble programme, Always Keeping Girls in School, as part of her Random Acts of Kindness initiative.
Strauss presented the cheque at a function at Pholosho Junior Secondary School in Alexandra. She also gave an inspirational talk and helped distribute sanitary packages. As part of its sponsorship from Miss South Africa, Cell C provided Strauss with R200 000 to use in her Random Acts of Kindness initiative.
For many girls from impoverished backgrounds, the onset of puberty marks a sharp decline in school attendance and could even lead to their dropping out of school completely. One of the reasons for this high drop-out rate is the lack of sanitary protection and lack of knowledge around puberty.
As they are unable to afford sanitary protection, and because they don’t understand what is happening to their bodies, what should be a celebration of womanhood becomes a time of shame, embarrassment and stigmatisation with dire consequences for the girls’ education and consequently their futures.
Procter & Gamble, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, Unicef, the Small Projects Foundation and other stakeholders, implemented the Always Keeping Girls in School programme in schools across South Africa in 2006.
While the donation of sanitary towels and provision of puberty education empowers girls to stay in school, the campaign has a far greater objective of motivating the girls to have a dream and a plan for their future, their self-esteem is raised and they are in a better position to further their education.
“My passion for women’s health and education comes together perfectly in the Always Keeping Girls in School project. By contributing to girls’ health, I feel that I am helping to shape their future. By contributing towards their education, we are giving them wings. I am grateful to be doing this in partnership with Cell C,” Strauss said.
