AS the country celebrates Women’s month, Hillcrest-based business women, Sue Barnes, is committed to keeping teenage girls in school during menstruation, ensuring they enjoy a school career and reach their full potential.
Sue said statistics show that more than four million teenage girls do not have regular access to sanitary products and adequate sanitation facilities which can affect a girl’s attendance at school by a staggering 25 per cent per year. “This equates to one week every month, which is a massive set back in their school careers,” explained Sue.
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Sue first heard about the issue of girls missing school because of a lack of access to sanitary wear in 2010 when her daughter came home with a request from her school for donations of disposable sanitary pads for the under privileged school girls in her area. Sue investigated further and realised that this was a serious concern and as much as donations would help the girls, the help would only be short term.
She decided to look at a longer term, sustainable solution for these girls. With her fashion design degree, Sue set about designing an eco-friendly, washable, reusable sanitary pad. It took three prototypes until the final product was produced. The design of clipping the pad directly onto the 100 per cent cotton panty was patented and offered girls a product that was safe, easy to wash and re-use, cost effective and would last up to five years.
Since its inception in 2010, Subz Pants and Pads and their NPO, Project Dignity have distributed over 140 000 packs nationwide, with the list of schools and organisations requiring assistance constantly growing. Included in the distribution of the product is an educational program on puberty, menstruation and female health to empower girls to reach their full potential by being able to stay in school and finish their education.
Sue signed up with ActionCOACH Ignite business coaching in October last year and is thoroughly enjoying the coaching process.
“Business coaching keeps me focused and gives me the tools to grow my business and in turn the ability to reach more school girls in need and change lives,” said Sue.
Deborah Coskey, her Business Coach from ActionCOACH Ignite said, “It is a real privilege to be working with Sue and watching her grow her business, put in systems and hire new staff. Her product is incredible and really is changing lives.”
Sue has won several awards over the past few years including the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship award, AfricaGrowth SMME Best New Business Sector Award, Greenovation Social Impact Award and the Clarins Most Dynamic Woman Award.
“Knowing that we are changing the lives of young women daily and giving them an opportunity to empower themselves for a better life is hugely rewarding. My advice for women this women’s month is to keep your eye on the prize and to stay true to yourself. Don’t try to be someone else, we all have our own strengths and individual gifts – use your gift to live your best life,” added Sue.
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