About 600 Grade 6 and 7 girl learners from three primary schools in Alexandra received a donation of 2 800 packs of sanitary pads from Tiger Brands collected during an employee volunteerism drive across the country.
Ekukhanyisweni, MC Weiler and Ikage primary schools were selected as recipients of the sanitary pads collection drive. These schools are also beneficiaries of the Tiger Brands Foundation’s national school breakfast nutrition programme in partnership with the Department of Basic Education’s national school nutrition programme.
The learners from the three schools each received up to four sanitary pad packs and each school received additional packs to keep in stock for when the girls need them.
Yolisa Mvunyisa, principal of Ekukhanyisweni Primary School, was on hand during the handover of sanitary pads for Grade 6 and 7 learners on May 5, and all in all, the three schools received a total of 2 800 sanitary pad packs.
The internal Tiger Brands collection drive was led by an all-women socio-economic development team with a passion for bringing dignity back to adolescent girls who lack access to such sanitary pads.
According to recent research, at least seven million girls are said to be occasional absentees from school during their menstrual period, losing an average of 1.6 and 2.1 days every month while at the same time missing at least 25% of the learning year.
“The is focused on uplifting society’s most vulnerable, be it through food security, as South Africa’s largest food producer, or giving young girls their dignity and confidence back during an important time of their lives and ensuring they are not robbed of their education unnecessarily.
“Our adolescent girls should know that they are cared for and supported,” said Preeya Naidu, manager of socio-economic development at Tiger Brands, who also challenged other brands to join the cause to bring dignity back to girls.
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