SUE Barnes from Hillcrest, founder of Subz Pants and Pads and its non-profit extension, Project Dignity, was selected to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) held at Stanford University, California from 22 to 24 June.
Project Dignity provides young South African women from disadvantaged communities with reusable, eco-friendly sanitary pads and panties, thereby reducing school absenteeism rates. Barnes is the only KwaZulu-Natal representative who will be attending the sponsored conference where international business leaders will talk on business enhancement strategies.
She also took the Hillcrest branch award and placed third in KwaZulu-Natal at the Margaret Hirsch Business Women’s Achiever Awards in April this year.
The commendations add to Sue’s list of impressive awards, including Clarins Most Dynamic Woman Award, the SAB Innovation Award and third place for the Enviropaedia Eco-Angel Award.
A UNICEF report found that a tenth of African school-going girls were missing 25 per cent of their education or dropping out because of a lack of menstrual sanitation products. To reduce school absenteeism and improve educational benefits of these young girls, Sue Barnes developed Subz Pads and Panties, a reusable, eco-friendly sanitary pad that clips onto 100 per cent cotton panties and lasts a minimum of five years. Project Dignity, the non-profit extension of the organisation, distributes sponsored Subz packs to girls in schools and communities in rural areas across the country, empowering these teenagers through education and access to sanitary wear.
Anyone wanting to get involved and contribute towards this worthwhile initiative can visit the website, www.subzpads.co.za.
