Disadvantaged girls receive sanitary pads on Mandela Day

Mandela Day, July 18, saw about 82 disadvantaged teenage girls received sanitary towels during the Vintage Girls event hosted at Ethafeni Sports Grounds.

The Vintage Girls project which was founded by Nonkululeko Mtshali (30), managed to raise the sanitary pads as a result of the donations made by community members and other sponsors.

The event was honoured by a group of drum majorettes who performed during the opening of the ceremony.

About 12 netball teams challenged each other on the day for the title of Vintage Girls Netball Champion.

It was Seven Stars netball team of Endulweni Section who won the games after they beat Vintage Girls team 9-7 in a final game.

The group walked away with a trophy, gold medals and photo album.

Vintage Girls also handed over a netball kit to the Ivory Park-based Divine Girls as they did not have any uniforms to put on during the games.

According to Mtshali, she wanted to promote sports, health, education and peace among young people.

Mtshali says she created the project to reduce the rate of absenteeism and the number of school drop outs among young girls without access to affordable and durable sanitary products. She also wants to raise awareness around women’s health.

“I am trying to help teenage girls focus on their education and sports. I want to give them hope regardless of their family backgrounds. They should have the opportunity to be free, to participate in daily activities and should not feel shamed or embarrassed. They ought to be be empowered at all times,” adds Mtshali. She says she aims to see the girls reclaiming their dignity through her initiative. Vintage Girls project gives young girls an opportunity to take part in netball, drum majorettes and group chats about topics such as teenage pregnancy, drugs and alcohol abuse. Girls targeted are 13 to 19 years old.