Sonia Jeanette Mokgoro tackles period poverty one pad at a time
When the Covid-19 pandemic forced South Africa into lockdown, Sonia Mokgoro used the unexpected time at home to confront period poverty in her community.
Sonia Jeanette Mokgoro (SJM), a non-profit organisation launched in 2021 amid the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, has made menstrual dignity its central focus.
The organisation, founded by Alex-based Sonia Mokgoro, began with modest, self-funded collections of sanitary pads. Mokgoro said they started collecting pads from friends and donated them to learners who needed them most. “Most of the pads that we got, we distributed them among three schools in Alexandra,” Mokgoro said.
Read more: Girl learners in three Alex primary schools receive sanitary pads
The initiative quickly expanded to include non-perishable foods and clothing, which were passed on to local partners, including the Lion of Judah organisation. SJM decided to expand their reach further by hosting charity runs and Christmas parties for orphanages, offering wider support to children and families facing hardship.
Mokgoro said when she started, she was motivated both by what she saw in her own neighbourhood and by similar grassroots efforts she observed online. “Because of Covid, everyone had time to sit in the house. That is where you realise that certain things are a need.”
Also read: Newly formed NGO donates sanitary pads to Alexandra High School learners
It was then that she felt compelled to take up the responsibility to address period poverty, a barrier that continues to affect school attendance and self-esteem for many young girls in South Africa. By ensuring regular access to pads, the organisation lives up to its mission to help girls manage their menstrual cycles with dignity rather than shame or exclusion.
However, Mokgoro’s vision reaches beyond monthly distributions of sanitary pads. She said she hoped that SJM grew into a reliable humanitarian presence, one that communities could turn to in times of need, much like the respected Gift of the Givers.
But for now, the NPO continues to use every opportunity for collection, distribution and outreach, ensuring that they make a tangible difference in the lives of young people.
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