Two Emeris Waterfall students have taken their social responsibility project beyond the classroom, securing a 200-pad donation and launching an online campaign to support girls at Mayibuye Primary School.

Fourth-year intermediate phase education student Mamigirl Mogale and fourth-year foundation phase student Violet Nyamah launched the sanitary pad drive as part of their social project after identifying a need among learners during their time at the school.

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The students initially set out to find sponsors who could help provide sanitary products to girls at Mayibuye Primary. Their efforts led to SG Shuttle Services donating 200 sanitary pads, which were handed over to the school on August 12.

Mogale said the need became clear after she and Nyamah began noticing that girls were frequently leaving class during lessons and asking for tissues.

“Upon arrival at Mayibuye Primary and teaching the learners, we realised that most girl learners frequently went to the bathroom and requested tissues. This became our wake-up call,” she said.

The students continued observing the situation and later spoke to some of the girls to better understand the challenges they were facing.

Mogale said economic hardship at home was one of the factors making it difficult for some learners to access sanitary products.

“Most learners at Mayibuye, their parents are unemployed, and some of their parents have passed on, and therefore it becomes hard for them to even get sanitary pads.”

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She added that the school provides meals to many learners, highlighting the extent of the financial pressures some families face.

Determined to find support, the duo approached SG Shuttle Services. “I reached out to SG Shuttle as it was one company I had used to travel, and they were not even hesitant to donate. The owner asked how many pads we need.”

Mogale added she was encouraged by the response, particularly because the donor was a man who showed an understanding of the challenges faced by girls and went further by promising continued support to the school.

The students said their goal is bigger than a once-off donation. They want girls to attend school throughout their menstrual periods without feeling unsafe, embarrassed, or forced to stay at home.

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To ensure the initiative continues after they complete their studies, Mogale and Nyamah have also launched a website, Pad Power Mayibuye Primary, to attract donations and keep the campaign active. “Our aim is for the website to continue operating even during the time we are no longer at the school.”

The students hope the initiative will eventually grow to a point where donors approach the school directly rather than the school having to continuously seek assistance.

“This project has impacted us positively to understand that a teacher at school is like a mother or a father at home. A teacher does not only teach. A teacher is a parent too.”

The students urge people to keep donating to the school and follow the link: https://pad-power-mayibuyeprimary.lovable.app/

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