Meet the movers of socio-economic development in uMhlanga
One in 10 girls in Africa miss school because they don't have access to sanitary pads.
A HUSBAND and wife duo, Joseph and Lesego Mpyana, want to improve the lives of young girls all over Africa, one menstrual cup at a time.
The founders of the Move Africa organisation, based in uMhlanga, aim to provide solutions to socio-economic challenges on the continent.
READ ALSO: Durban North endurance swimmer needs your help
They’ve started by distributing Move menstrual cups throughout various schools in the country.
“It all began when I was a TEACH SA ambassador and noticed that girls were missing school for days at a time. When I asked the girls, I learnt that they didn’t have sanitary wear and had to stay home when they were on their menstrual cycle,” said Lesogo who holds an honours degree in strategic communications.
She added that one in 10 girls in Africa miss school because they don’t have access to sanitary pads.
“I always knew that I had to do something to change that. Fast forward a few years, I founded Move Africa with Joseph, with the aim of making a positive and significant difference to the lives of young girls,” she said.
Joseph comes from the corporate world with a strong background in corporate social investment and with the same vision as Lesogo, the power couple started Move Africa.
“There are many companies that I worked with who said sanitary pad drives are not sustainable because of the cost to run them consistently. The menstrual cup provides a more long-term solution to eradicating the issue of girls missing school as each cup lasts 10 years.
“It’s also more affordable to corporates who want to invest,” he said.
What is a menstrual cup?
A menstrual cup is a reusable feminine hygiene product.
“The small flexible funnel-shaped cup is made of silicone that is inserted into the vagina to collect period fluid,” said Lesogo.
The cups are FDA approved and made from medical grade silicone. They are also 100% recyclable making them more eco-friendly to pads and tampons. They can be used for up to 12 hours at a time and holds more liquid than a tampon or pad.
“To clean it sterile, all you have to do is boil it before you use it at the start of your cycle,” she added.
The cost of one cup is R100. If you would like to sponsor a girl or a school, contact Joseph on 076 3700 484. or email josephm@moveafricaco.com
For more information visit www.moveafricaco.com
* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za)
You can also sign up for news alerts on Telegram. Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5532.
For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram
