Project Dignity’s aim to distribute reusable sanitary pads to young women across the country received a major boost when renowned pharmacy, health and beauty store, Clicks, decided to partner with the organisation for its Girls on the Go campaign.
Run by the Clicks Helping Hand Trust, the Girls on the Go campaign will assist with sponsorship of thousands of reusable sanitary packs being donated to disadvantaged communities across the country every two months.
“We’ve partnered with Project Dignity from 2015, and for the 2017 financial year, we aim to distribute 10 000 packs of sanitary wear to needy recipients,” explained Germinah Nyikana, Helping Hand Trust Manager. “The decision to partner with Project Dignity was prompted by the organisation’s success in reducing school absenteeism rates. With access to proper sanitary wear, young women don’t have to miss school during their menstrual cycle, as has been happening previously.”
Project Dignity forms the non-profit extension of Subz Pants and Pads, an organisation founded by Sue Barnes which seeks to vastly improve the lives of school-going girls by donating sponsored packs of reusable, eco-friendly sanitary pads and accompanying panties. The organisation was established after Barnes learned about the negative educational impact a lack of sanitary products is having on thousands of school children.
Developed, designed and manufactured by Barnes, the Subz pads are made of five layers of hydrophilic fabric which makes them extremely absorbent to prevent leakage. Together with the 100% cotton panties, they are patented and have an SABS absorbency approval.
“It is so rewarding, having the privilege of meeting with young women and donating something that makes life that much easier, but we cannot meet the need without the help of organisations like Clicks,” said Barnes. “They are truly committed to improving the lives of young South Africans and restoring dignity along the way through initiatives such as Girls on the Go.”
Every two months, Clicks purchases 2 000 Subz Pants and Pads packs which it donates to worthwhile recipients. For March 2017, Clicks is working with Project Dignity to distribute 1 000 of the packs to schoolgirls in six schools based in Molweni, KwaZulu-Natal. The Girls on the Go campaign is set to continue for a further three years.
This leg of the campaign will be headed by Mooi Mthethwa, a devoted volunteer of Project Dignity and motivational speaker with Nation Changers – an outreach extension of City Hill Church in Hillcrest. Through Nation Changers in partnership with Project Dignity, Mthethwa assists in identifying schools in the area where young women can benefit from the Subz packs’ donations. She attends the school activations with the Project Dignity team where she gives educational and motivational talks to the girls in iSiZulu.
The remainder of the Subz packs sponsored by Clicks havebeen donated to schoolchildren at Marianridge Secondary School, Brookdale Secondary School as well as schools supported by The Kloof Rotary Annes. The donations, which were made between 18 April and 9 May, include a Subz Pants and Pads menstrual management kit which consists of two pairs of panties, as well as six reusable sanitary pads that will last the girls for the next three to five years
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