Nokeri launched the partnerships at the Mashooro Secondary School at Ga Mokgwathi village outside Tzaneen, where she met learners and distributed sanitary pads to 300 girls on Tuesday, November 29. Ed-Unite in association with Miss South Africa has joined forces with the Imbumba Foundation and Forever New to help end period poverty through the Imbumba Foundation’s ambitious Caring4Girls programme.

Ed-Unite aims to bridge the inequality gap within economically marginalised communities to help ensure an equal playing field for all learners. The programme intends to raise funds for infrastructure and facilities at schools, scholarships, bursaries, medical and menstrual hygiene support as well as sports and training. Nokeri’s role is that of convenor, linking like-minded groups to act in concert as they redress the inequalities of the past.

She acts as a conduit between big corporations, foundations, and schools in need, ensuring that businesses with services to offer and finances to spend on corporate social investment (CSI) are partnered with each other. Clothing and accessories brand, Forever New, was the first sponsor to come on board with a pledge of R600 000 to supply sanitary pads and end period poverty as another barrier to education.

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The Imbumba Foundation, which has been working with the youth over the past 12 years, has an extensive footprint and was the first non-profit organisation in the menstrual hygiene space in South Africa. It led to the lobbying for the successful abolishment of VAT on menstrual products. Imbumba’s Caring4Girls addresses peer pressure issues, sexual and reproductive health concerns, and social issues such as gender-based violence. In 2020, Caring4Girls SABS-approved sanitary pads were launched. The pads are locally manufactured.

“It was a no-brainer for me to return to Limpopo and help learners from my home province, thanks to the initial monies raised by my Ed-Unite programme.” Nokeri is currently preparing for the Miss Universe title. To vote for her to secure a semi-final spot, download the Miss Universe app, under contestants search for South Africa, find Ndavi’s photo, and vote for her. The first vote is free.