Over the years, thousands of girls have been unable to stay in school because of the monthly menstrual cycles because they simply cannot afford to buy sanitary towels. This affects their school marks as well as lowers their self-esteem.
On October 9, the Upendo Women’s Foundation (UWF) which is based in California, visited girls at Freedom Primary School in Devlands to encourage the girls to stay in school despite them being on their period.
UWF founder, Njeri Tubei addressed the girls and told them that having their period should not be a difficult experience.
“We are here today to help you girls where we can. No one should feel the need to stay out of school because of the period,” she said.
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UWF is a non-profit organisation that strives to create a more dignified, humane and dignified world for girls
through advocacy, reproductive health awareness, education and sustainable hygiene solutions because these are things girls simply cannot do without.
Tubei said that when girls are educated about their menstrual cycles they are most likely to stay in school and have more confidence, which would lead to them educating their peers.
Women from the organisation spoke to the learners from Freedom Primary School and encouraged them to take their hygiene seriously.
Re-usable sanitary packs were distributed to over 100 learners at the school.
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“I know that sanitary towels are expensive, so my mission here today is to provide these girls with a solution. These re-usable towels will last for close to five years if they are looked after properly.
“In the bags we provided the girls with a wash cloth, eight re-usable towels, two towel holders, a bag to dispose of the used towels as as well as soap to remind our girls to keep clean,” said Tubei.
Women from the organisation said that they have helped girls in Malawi, Cameroon, Zanzibar, Kenya and that South Africa was the fifth country.
“We plan to come back to South Africa, we would love to help more girls,” said the founder.
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