Menstrual hygiene dialogue at Curtis Nkondo School
Celebrating International Menstrual Hygiene Day, aimed to raise awareness and provide practical solutions to keep girls in school during their menstrual cycle.
The Caring4Girls campaign, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness and providing practical solutions to keep girls in school during their menstrual cycle, expanded its efforts this year by hosting a significant menstrual hygiene dialogue at the Curtis Nkondo School of Specialisation.
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This event was held in celebration of International Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28.
The Caring4Girls campaign is a programme under the Imbumba Foundation based in Sandton.
According to Richard Mabaso, the CEO of Imbumba Foundation, the school was specifically chosen for its Stem-focused curriculum, which prioritises engineering, mathematics, sciences, commerce, information and communication technology (ICT), and entrepreneurship.
“The dialogue aligned with the broader aims of the Caring4Girls programme and the Menstrual Hygiene Day initiative, which sought to: break the silence and end the stigma around period poverty; raise awareness; provide access to sanitary support and facilities; promote education; advocate for policy change; and, above all, empower women and girls.”
He added that the Sylko-Lion Match Company’s Comfitex brand generously donated about R250 000 worth of sanitary pads to the Caring4Girls programme through the Dischem Million Comforts Campaign.
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“This contribution formed part of an ongoing three-year partnership for Menstrual Hygiene Day.”
Mabaso added that 640 girls benefitted from and participated in the dialogue.
The event featured Dr Sibu Lubelwana, a passionate obstetrician and gynaecologist dedicated to empowering women with knowledge about their health. School learners from different grades also shared their experiences alongside Caring4Girls representatives.
Salome Makgato, the marketing manager of Sylko-Lion Match Company (Comfitex), highlighted the significance of the initiative: “Addressing period poverty and promoting Stem education for girls in South Africa goes beyond social investment; it is a fundamental step toward equity and empowerment.”
Makgato pointed out that by ensuring access to menstrual hygiene products and creating opportunities in Stem, they enabled young women to pursue their ambitions, break barriers, and become future leaders in innovation and economic growth.
Mabaso concluded by stating that addressing period poverty and empowering girls in Stem paved the way for a brighter, more inclusive future, one where young women can pursue their dreams without limitations, breaking barriers and driving innovation in critical fields.
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