South African girls face extreme period poverty, meaning they do not have the resources each month to access sanitary pads and other feminine hygiene products.
South Africa (28 May 2021) – The 28th of May marks Menstrual Hygiene Day and over the next month, The Clicks Helping Hand Trust Girls on the Go programme will be donating 600 000 sanitary pads to 16 schools and non-profit organisations across South Africa.
“When we talk about period poverty, we’re really talking about the poverty of missed opportunities. Days out of school. Tests skipped, exams missed. Stigma. Even shame. These have long-term consequences on a young girl’s life, and we can all help by shining the spotlight on this very real issue,” says Sue Duminy, influencer, entrepreneur and mother.
Sue and her husband, former international cricketer JP Duminy, joined The Clicks Helping Hand Trust to hand over 3 000 Libresse sanitary pad packs, 900 packs of Gynaguard wipes and 1000 hand and surface sanitiser sprays from EF-Active to learners at Silikamva High School in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, in the build-up to World Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28 May 2021.
This handover forms part of The Clicks Helping Hand Trust Girls on the Go campaign, which will be donating sanitary products from Always, Libresse, Lillets, Stay Free, Comfitex, Kotex, Femegene and GynaGuard to schoolgirls who don’t have regular access to quality sanitary products. In total, the value of this donation will amount to just over R1 million.
“We identified the lack of access to sanitary products as a major barrier to education and equal opportunities some time ago,” says Leigh Schuster, school administrator: Silikamva High School. “This support makes a big difference in these girls’ lives, to know that their needs are recognised and they are supported.”
This is a collaborative effort, explains Sanele Nyathi, Manager: The Clicks Helping Hand Trust, between like-minded companies and initiatives.
“To make the donation of 600 000 sanitary pads possible, you need partners and you need a common goal: we believe no woman or girl should be kept from realising her full potential because she menstruates. This donation will hopefully go a long way in improving our girls’ educational experience and outcomes.”
Research shows that one in seven South African school-going girls report not having enough sanitary products for each period in the past three months, and that this lack of access to sanitary wear and adequate sanitation facilities can affect a girl’s attendance at school by 25% per year as a result.
“Too many girls in South Africa miss school because they cannot afford sanitary pads,” agrees Hilda Heymans, National Sales: SA, Essity. “It is a basic right for any child to receive an education and something as natural as the monthly period should not get in the way of that. At Libresse, we are honoured to participate in this campaign and to do our part to minimise period poverty and keep our girls in school.”
The Clicks Helping Hand Trust Girls on the Go programme aims to promote access to healthcare and the importance of menstrual wellbeing, says Nyathi. In this way, it is helping young girls to take charge of their menstrual health and drive a healthier future for our communities.
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