Challenges faced by young girls during their menstrual circle came under the spotlight at the recent Friends of Madiba Benefit Dinner.
Hosted by Bedfordview residents Mr Vis Naidoo and his wife, Advocate Mona, the evening was aimed at raising funds for a charity close to the couple’s hearts; Caring4Girls.
On July 14, the couple, with 41 other South Africans climbed Kilimanjaro as part of the Trek4Mandela expedition.
The initiative is the brainchild of Nelspruit-born, Mr Richard Mabaso and raises money to supply girls from poor backgrounds with sanitary pads.
Speaking at the dinner held at Bistro Michel in Melrose, Mr Mabaso said the idea was born after he overheard his niece telling his mother that her first period had come, but she did not have sanitary pads.
“My mother told her not to speak about the subject in front of her uncle, me. So I pretended to be asleep as they spoke. This got me thinking about how many other young girls go through the same thing my niece,” said Mr Mabaso.
He said from that day he started approaching corporates and supermarkets asking for donations.
Mr Mabasa said he reached out to his friend, Mr Sibusiso Vilane, the first black African to summit Mount Everest.
“I asked him to take me up Kilimanjaro because I wanted to raise awareness and funds for the course in order to reach more girls in honour of late former president Dr Nelson Mandela. In 2012 we went for the climb and it was the two of us. That year we supported over 1 000 girls. In 2013 we supported over 10 000. I urge every South African to make a contribution to our commitment to keep the girl child in school. This they can do by buying sanitary towels at Dischem and dropping them in the #MillionComforts purple bins provided,” said Mr Mabaso.
“During our benefit dinner we raised R34 000 in the auction and R66 000 in ticket sales. Thanks to our generous sponsors for covering the costs. The R100 000 goes to Caring4Girls. The original hand painted Silk Madiba Shirt is still for sale, so [we] expect the proceeds to be even higher. We do it for the girls,” said Mr Naidoo.
To donate R30, residents can SMS “Vis” or “Mona” to 42513.
