Lights, Camera, Activism! Activists Fighting Period Poverty in South Africa have been nominated for the ‘Content of the Year Award’ amongst others, and this is the side of social media we’re inspired to see.
South Africa (03 August, 2023) — Content creators have changed a lot in the world of social media. But, what about the ones changing the world outside of our screens? Social media and keyboard activists are one thing, but activists who work beyond social media are another. Spotlighting the latter are the 2023 DStv Content Creator Awards, where people fighting period poverty are in the limelight.
Not only were those tackling period poverty nominated for the ‘Cause’ category of the awards, but they were also nominated for the Content of the Year Award!
Meet the Nominees
Candice Chirwa (AKA the Minister of Menstruation) and Siv Ngesi (Founder of the MENstruation Foundation) scooped the nominations for the 2023 Awards. Meet them:
Candice Chirwa, The Minister of Menstruation
Fighting period poverty through accessible education
Candice Chirwa is more than just a bold voice on social media platforms. The South African-Malawian is the founder of an award-winning Non-Profit Qrate, a fearless author and dignity leader dubbed ‘The Minister of Menstruation’. She dedicates her time to educating people about menstruation; breaking barriers and questioning ‘taboos’ in the process.
As for QRate, the non-profit company is focused on ‘Eduliftment’ for children, which helps them with critical thinking toward their circumstances. For QRate, grassroots education through workshops with an empowered curriculum is the foundation of a socially aware generation where periods are normalised.
Siv Ngisi, The MENstruation Foundation
Fighting period poverty by creating access to menstrual products
Siv Ngesi wears many hats as an actor, influencer and MENstruation Foundation co-founder. However, his most impactful is his foundation’s fight against period poverty in the most literal sense.
The MENstruation Foundation encourages men to get active in ending period poverty and provides period products to women across the country. To date, almost 400 000 products have been donated. They have also been instrumental in the Sanitary Pad Vending Machine Project which provides the easiest access to menstrual health products as if they were a vending machine snack!
While being a keyboard activist has its place (especially when sharing helpful information or rallying for a cause) the people working on and behind the screens are some of our favourite ‘content creators’.
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