In a bid to make a difference in the communities of Mpumalanga, 10 community projects were the beneficiaries of the 2024 Annual Red Carpet Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Event in Mpumalanga. Blessing _ M Holdings, Shanei Born the Book and Business Coach, the Collen Mashawana Foundation and some of their partners made donations to these projects on August 16.
As part of these projects, sanitary towels were donated to GRIP to aid women who have experienced gender-based violence, blankets were donated to the Dasha Foundation for adults aged 18 to 35 living with disabilities, and school shoes were donated to KaMagugu Special School to benefit the children in need.
Sanitary towels and blankets for school camps were also donated to Cyril Clarke High School for learners in need, and food hampers were handed to the Millennium Home of Hope.
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According to Blessing Mmola of Blessing _ M Holdings, this initiative is run throughout the year as part of its community projects. “During the red carpet GBVF event, we play videos to show the sponsors what we have done throughout the year.
We have initiatives before and after the main event. These five projects are the last ones we donate to after the event.”
Mmola said it was nice to see how happy everyone was when they visited the beneficiaries, and their smiles are what they took home.
Tarryn Lokotsch, GRIP’s CEO, said as one of the beneficiaries, they wanted to extend their heartfelt gratitude for the generous sponsorship of sanitary towels.
“Thank you for serving and supporting our girls and young women. Addressing GBVF in Mpumalanga’s communities is crucial, and your support plays a significant role in this effort.
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GBVF is a serious issue that affects many families and communities. Imagine a world free from it, where such violence against women, children and men is a thing of the past.
We thank you for addressing this significant issue that impacts almost every area of our lives. Your contribution helps bring about healing and restores hope to the people of Mpumalanga, working towards creating real change rather than just increasing awareness.”
She said GRIP appreciates the donation. “These sanitary towels will make a significant difference in addressing period poverty among young girls and women today.
They will also be included in our care packs given to survivors of rape in our hospital care rooms. When survivors go for their forensic examinations, their underwear is taken away as evidence.
In many cases, it takes time before survivors are discharged from the hospital to return home. Often, survivors live with their perpetrators, making it unsafe for them to return home until these perpetrators are apprehended or alternative safe accommodation is found,” Lokotsch explained.
