Foundation wants to supply free pads to girls and young women
“It is important for the residents to work together to ensure that a girl is able to get the same educational opportunities as a boy.”
The Kuluntu Foundation has urged Salvokop residents to unite and fight against the negative effects of poverty to help needy schoolgirls.
The foundation is currently helping disadvantaged girls and young women between the ages of 13 and 25 to have free access to sanitary towels.
“An absence of pads, owing to poverty, forces young girls to skip their classes at school between three to five days per month,” spokesperson Thembela Mafu told Rekord.
“It is important for the residents to work together to ensure that a girl can get the same educational opportunities as a boy.”
Mafu said fighting poverty was important in making a difference in society.
Photo Ron Sibiya
“The need for sanitary pads is a long-standing problem, which is becoming worst as the unemployment numbers keep on growing as people are unable to afford it.”
The foundation believed working with members of the community in solving the problem was the best solution.
“We aim to get sustainable solutions to the problems affecting various members of the community.
“We plan to realise our ultimate objective of helping those who are needy through organising various projects that bring community members together,” she said.
“The pad drive is our current project.
“Beneficiaries are welcome to pick up the pads when needed at the Rea day-care centre which has been earmarked as the pickup centre in our area.”
Mafu said the foundation was running the project with care to protect the identity and the dignity of its beneficiaries.
“No one wants it to be known that she cannot afford a pad.”
She said pads were a basic necessity for all girls and young women and that they should have access to them, irrespective of economic background.
The foundation is planning to host two events in May to raise funds: a jumble sales clothing fundraiser drive on May 7 and the Kuluntu Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Day on May 28.
She said they were planning more projects and to expand their organisation’s activities to the entire Pretoria.
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