Organisations donate dignity packs to young girls in Mapleton
Nakisani Linda said there are currently 21 girls in the programme, and the programme has empowered 200 girls since its inception.
The Big Sister I Never Had (TBSINHO) organisation in partnership with Women Paying It Forward South Africa (WPIFSA) donated 26 dignity packs comprising sanitary pads, body lotions, roll-ons, towels, bath soaps, toothpaste and toothbrushes to young girls in Mapleton, Vosloorus, on June 30.
The donation took place at God Perfect Love Ministries (GPLM) in Mapleton.
According to the founder and visionary of TBSINHO, Nakisani Linda, they donated the dignity packs to the girls after the leaders of GPLM notified them that there were girls in their church and from disadvantaged families who needed dignity packs.
“The products in the dignity packs will last the girls for three months. We will return to Mapleton after three months to donate again to the girls because we want to ensure the girls use the products in the dignity packs for the whole year.
“The donation drive is one of our outreach programs within the organisation. We thank WPIFSA for donating the products in the dignity packs,” said Linda.
She added she formed the TBSINHO in 2018, because she was keen on finding a big sister she could speak to about a problem she had at the time.
“I was subjected to ‘colourism’ and discriminated against because of the dark colour of my skin, but I could not find the big sister I needed at that difficult time of my life.
“On June 23, 2018, when I got married, the girls I was mentoring sent me congratulatory messages, and in all the messages they labelled me as their big sister,” Linda explained.
She mentioned after her marriage, she asked God what her purpose was in life.
“God, in a vision, referred me back to the messages I received on my wedding day. He said I must use the ‘big sister’ statement I received in the messages to create an organisation that will help young girls.
“That is how I formed my organisation and named it TBSINHO,” she clarified.
She said at the inception of TBSINHO she introduced an eight-month empowerment programme for girls who partook in the organisation.
“In the programme, I encourage young girls to embrace their identity, to know their purpose in Christ and to become the best version of themselves.
“Currently I have 21 girls in the programme, and the programme has empowered 200 girls since its inception,” she said.
Lwandile Baleni (16), a recipient of the dignity packs, was delighted to receive the dignity pack.
“This dignity pack has surely boosted my confidence. I now have sanitary items I will use for three months. It means a lot to me,” Baleni added.
Another recipient of the dignity packs, Nthokozo Ndzimande, said she was looking forward to the TBSINHO returning after three months to Mapleton.
“I would also like to thank the organisation for coming here today and giving us these valuable items,” she concluded.
