Project empowers young girls
SANDTON - The Empowering Girls in School Sanitary Project was launched at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton.
The project aims to make sanitary pads accessible to young girls across South Africa who are unable to afford or have access to them.
Consumer goods company, Procter and Gamble has partnered with Lead SA and Proudly South African for this project through the company’s Keeping Girls in School (AKGIS) initiative.
Former Miss South Africa, Bokang Montjane, was the host at the launch and she was supported by other special guests that included the Deputy Minister of Communications, Thembisa Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and Khulu Mabaso, associate director of communications for sub-Saharan Africa.
“We are honoured to be part of this project with our influential partners and we encourage businesses to contribute to this initiative,’’ said Mabaso.
As part of the event, AKGIS provided 120 sanitary packs to girls from various schools that attended the event. The packs included items such as sanitary towels and a puberty education booklet that aimed to educate girls about the changes their bodies go through during puberty.
A panel discussion moderated by chief executive officer of Proudly South African, Lesley Sedibe discussed issues that affected young girls in South Africa, and ways that corporate and citizens could assist to alleviate these issues in schools and communities.
“We have a responsibility as South African citizens to take care of our young girls and with this initiative we want to give pupils the dignity they deserve, and make sure that they are clean and healthy during their monthly periods,” said Sedibe.
