This Northern Cape Company Wants To Empower Young Women with Menstrual Health

To tackle reduce school attrition, a company in the Northern Cape has started a campaign to help young girls with sanitary ware and education on menstrual hygiene management.

Matla A Bokone’s Chief Legal Officer Lesego Mosiane told The Altruist this week that the company, which funds the programme, wants to ensure that these young girls access sanitary towels and are not kept away from school because they can’t afford them.

“[We also want to] promote proper menstrual hygiene (which) is crucial for the well-being of young girls in our communities,” Mosiane said.

She further explained that unhygienic menstrual practices increase vulnerability to reproductive tract infections, pelvic inflammatory diseases, and related complications.

This initiative, which covers most parts of the Sol Plaatje Municipal, also employed 3 women who help produce dignity packs, enhancing youth employment and economic empowerment in the area.

According to the organisation, more than 3000 young girls have benefitted from the project.

“At the forefront of the fight against period poverty, the Girl Pride Initiative has positively impacted over 3 000 young girls across schools in the Sol Plaatje Municipal area since its inception in 2022,” it said.

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Beyond addressing health aspects, this outreach is committed to empowering and building the confidence of the schoolgirls it reaches, including an Integrated School Health Programme and Life Orientation curriculum, which educates beneficiaries on matters related to menstrual hygiene, contributing to their holistic development.

Forence Dirawu, educator at Boresetse High School in Barkley West, expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating, “We appreciate this support from Matla A Bokone Solar so much. I am even more honoured to have had to be accountable as I saw to it that these lovely pink bags reach the learners they were intended for.”

Matla A Bokone is a solar energy company operating in the Northern Cape and other provinces.

Editor’s note: This initiative, which covers most parts of the Sol Plaatje Municipal, also employed 3 women who help produce dignity packs, enhancing youth employment and economic empowerment in the area.

Description: To tackle reduce school attrition, a company in the Northern Cape has started a campaign to help young girls with sanitary ware and education on menstrual hygiene management.

Editor: Thato Mahlangu

Project manager: Do4SA