Since the beginning of the year, the Pad Princess project, a subsidiary of Kindness Like Confetti (KLC) has distributed 10 843 packs of pads, 5 941 packs of pantyliners and 577kg of tampons. The most recent pad handouts went to schools in Soweto, Krugersdorp and projects in Mamelodi, Lenasia and Ennerdale.
In September alone, 1 846 packs of pads were handed out to NPOs who distribute on the Pad Princess project’s behalf. These donations also included cotton wool, feminine wipes, earbuds and maternity pads to new moms.
All products (pads, tampons, panty liners, etc) are received via donations from the public, or the re-packed items returned to shops.
“We are hoping to launch a ‘Sister School’ initiative toward the end of October this year. This entails a private school partnering up with another school of similar size. The idea is that each girl at the school contributes just one pack of pads per month, to be collected at the school and then handed over to their ‘sisters’ at the other school each month,” explained Jenny Laas.
“Any other private schools that would like to become involved are welcome”.
Pads can be dropped by arrangement at KLC offices, Liza Verburg’s home in Linden or any KLC collection point. Donations of pads have been made in bulk and delivered via courier services to the homes of Verburg and Laas. Monetary donations can be made via the KLC website and referenced PadP to be allocated to the Pad Princess for the exclusive use of purchasing feminine hygiene products for distribution.
“Without donations from organisations like us, schoolgirls are missing class for several days every month, and they eventually lose out on weeks of essential education per year. Many stay home, some use rags, leaves and paper instead of sanitary pads,” explained Laas.
The Pad Princess project has continued throughout lockdown, with the relevant protocol observed, however, the work which involved their volunteer school girls was paused.
“If every household that can afford it could add a packet of sanitary pads to their monthly shopping, and get them to Liza, we could certainly help many more girls. We appeal to corporates to donate money as part of their CSI which we would use to buy pads – an 18(a) certificate can be issued,’ concluded Laas.
Details: www.kindness.org.za; liza@kindness.org.za; KLC mobile phone 072 675 1536.
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