Breaking the stigma around menstruation
Pamela said she took having her period for granted every month in the past, but now to her it represented education, health, self-confidence and dignity for the more than 200-million girls and women who they hope to reach.
Former South African and Newcastle-born Pamela Govender left the shores of her country 10 years ago and embarked on a journey to what she called a foreign land: Australia.
Today her heart is still in South Africa, and inspired her to look at people and their struggles through a different lens.
Her life’s passion is to see the inner greatness in people and bring it forth, helping them optimise their purpose and significance in life.
Together with her husband, Seelan they began a campaign known as the Restore a Smile Foundation.
“The nonprofit organisation helps people move from crisis situations to stability,” said Govender.
Through the Restore a Smile, one of its initiatives, Blessing Bags (which provides hygiene packs to homeless woman), unearthed a massive social and health issue.
They realised women and girls resort to using unsafe alternatives like rags, old socks, cardboard, wet newspaper, banana leaves or tree bark to manage their menstruation, putting them at risk of infection.
“In so many countries around the world, girls drop out of school because they lack access to affordable, hygienic menstrual products, hampering their education and future opportunities.This is a distressing reality, that they are held back by a process that is supposed to be so natural,”explained Govender.
With that in mind, they set out to manufacture a biodegradable sanitary pad, which is gentle on the body and the environment. Through this initiative, the brand Hope for Her was born, giving women, girls and the planet, health and hope for a better future.
After a tedious year of dedicated research, design, sourcing, planning, production and logistics, the couple believes they are now ready to make a difference in the lives of many women and girls globally.
‘Fighting period poverty one sanitary pad at a time!’
Pamela said she took having her period for granted every month in the past, but now to her it represented education, health, self-confidence and dignity for the more than 200-million girls and women who they hope to reach.
“We also want to educate men and boys on the topic, so that fathers, husbands and brothers can play a key role in making sure these women and girls have a safe and dignified period breaking the menstrual taboo and the culture of silence that surrounds it.”
The Hope For Her #PadsforProgress campaign is committed to helping girls stay in school by distributing biodegradable sanitary pads to girls who cannot afford period protection.
This community-based project, aims to support young girls throughout their periods by setting up ‘community cupboards’ in local schools and around the world with free sanitary pads.
In the hope of destigmatizing menstruation, the organisation requires donations towards the campaign.
“With your help, we can donate pads to girls around the world, creating a reliable, sustainable supply of sanitary pads to schools, prisons, health clinics, rural disadvantaged communities, refugee camps, homeless woman and shelters. Together, we can take action and #EndPeriodPoverty.”
‘Every single girl deserves access to safe and clean sanitary pads’
“Our periods are not going anywhere; they are here to stay. Help us to restore health and dignity in the lives of mothers, daughter, wives and sisters and educate the next generation of men on this natural process,” concluded Govender.
For more information, visit its website at www.hopehygiene.com
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