NPO addresses children’s socio-economic challenges
Chairperson of the NPO Moses Semela said the purpose of the drive was to encourage young girls to talk about challenges they go through and not be scared.
Learners living in poverty are more likely to be absent from school, due to the lack of resources such as sanitary pads. Tusang Sechaba Caring, an NPO from Katlehong, hosted a sanitary drive at Lungisani Primary School on March 5.
Chairperson of the NPO Moses Semela said the purpose of the drive was to encourage young girls to talk about the challenges they go through and not be scared. The NPO was accompanied by the assistant director of Support Service at Bertha Gxowa Hospital (BGH), Cyprian Msimang, Nomsa Madinani and Puseletso Khesue from Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Community Safety Forum.
“My vision is to see young girls not skipping school due to sanitary pads.” The deputy principal of Lungisani Primary, Zandile Machere, said the school and children needed the donation. “We benefited a lot because our children are struggling. Some come from child-headed families and others are orphans. “They sometimes use paper or sponge when they are in their cycle. Somebody can see this as a small donation but this was big for us. “Tusang Sechaba also offered to help us with other socio-economic issues which are important.”
The deputy principal said educators can sometimes get too busy to address socio-economic issues that learners struggle with. “We can now approach the NPO when we need help.” Moses said the children were very excited.
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“Some learners shed tears of joy because they needed this. It was very touching for me to see them cry because I know we made a difference in their lives.”
Moses thanked the Bertha Gxowa Hospital and Ramokonopi Clinic staff who donated the sanitary pads. Nomsa said the sanitary drive was a good opportunity to educate learners on the services they offer. “We identify the root causes of crime before it happens then contact the necessary stakeholders. For example, if a child is abused we can contact social workers to help them get counselling.”
Moses added Tusang Sechaba Caring’s motive is to raise a generation of people that will make a conscious decision to build their communities.
“Our duty is to restore change in the society we live in by making sure that we care for our children, elderly people and everyone living within our communities, as well as by reducing the rate of poverty in society.”
To contact the Katlehong EMPD Police Community Safety Forum, call 011 999 0344.
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