Impilo Collection Foundation fights menstrual poverty with 1 tonne sanitary pad drive
The foundation kicked off its 2021 drives in partnership with the Ekurhuleni Municipality to distribute 1000kg of sanitary pads to 1000 of the region’s most vulnerable girls and women.
Close to 4 million South African girls cannot afford sanitary pads, hampering their confidence and progress in school and life, due to something as natural as a period.
With the aim of fighting menstrual poverty in the country, Impilo Collection Foundation partnered with the local Ekurhuleni Municipality to distribute 1 tonne of sanitary pads to three areas of the region: Alberton, Thembisa and Benoni, last Friday.
The first leg of the drive was at the Amcare Centre in Alberton. The centre has supports over 700 girls between 3 and 21, focusing specifically on victims of domestic violence and people living with HIV and AIDS, giving them home-based care sand skills development to help the girls regain their dignity.
The region’s MMC Doro Mlambo opened the proceedings and said although government had responded positively to menstrual poverty by putting zero tax on sanitary towels, Covid-19 has added a spanner to the works for a lot of families.
“The cost of living is rising and people are having to choose between putting food on the table and buying sanitary towels. We appreciate Impilo for partnering with local government to fill the gaps in meeting South Africa’s social development needs.” She said thankfully.
Impilo Collection Foundation’s founder, Angela Yeung, expressed her gratitude to the local government and volunteers who took time of their jobs and businesses to service the community in different ways.
“I’ve climbed Kilimanjaro twice bring attention to the plight of young girls and women need for regular access to quality sanitary pads. Without sanitary pads girls have no freedom to do what they need to do – they can’t go to school, they can’t do sports, they cannot do what they want – for us, it’s about giving back that freedom and dignity,”
The next stop for the foundation’s team and volunteers was the Bophelong Empilweni New Life Centre in Thembisa. The Centre caters to over 120 girls between the ages of 6 to 21, offering social services such as counselling, after-care and other after school programs as well as protection for children coming from abusive homes.
Ouma Dineo Monareng from the City’s Community Empowerment Office, congratulated the centre for recently securing land from the local government to develop its property to better serve the girls, before once again highlighting government’s call for partnerships.
“Erkuhuleni’s tagline is ‘partnerships’ we cannot make the real difference we want to see in our country on our own as government, but with partnerships, we see the real difference in our communities.” She emphasized.
The final stop sanitary pad distribution drive was the Kids Haven Children’s Home in Benoni. Here, over 200 girls between 3 and 21 are taking care of and supported, with special focused paid on skills development for girls in high school and varsity.
Impilo’s project manager, Mara Butler, encouraged the girls, who welcomed the foundation with some tea and scones, to make the most of the help and support they receive.
“We live in a world were although we fight for equality and women empowerment, we still struggle to see ourselves as valuable sometimes. What we do when we give is saying, giving of our resources and time is us doing our bit to remind you that you are valuable, you matter and can reach your goals to help another girl in the future,” Butler invigorated.
Impilo Collection Foundation will be running sanitary pad drives for other vulnerable communities throughout the year. If you would like to donate to this and other projects run by the foundation, or would like to register as a volunteer, visit www.impilofoundation.co.za
Press release by Impilo Collection Foundation.
Photos courtesy of Impilo Collection Foundation.
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