Pads keep girls in school
Research has indicated that underprivileged girls are absent an average of four to five days a month - equivalent to two weeks of learning in every school term
Excitement was written all over the faces of girl pupils from Bhevu High School in the Ladysmith area last Friday when they received a delivery of sanitary pads, a dose of inspiration and encouragement to stay in school despite the challenges experienced during puberty.
The pads were donated by Procter & Gamble (P&G), who have pioneered the Always Keeping Girls In School (AKGIS) campaign in partnership with the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, with the aim of averting the trend where school-going girls stay away from school due their menstrual cycle.
Nqobile Ngema, an influential nurse from KZN who focuses on puberty and wellness disciplines, had an intense engagement with girl pupils and parents during this visit. Part of her tutoring included giving girls insight into how to look after themselves and deal with the typical challenges most girls go through during their puberty years, such as the menstrual cycle, acne breakouts, dating, sex education and their general orientation towards their desired goals.
AKGIS, a P&G initiative through its sanitary brand, Always™, is continuing to make a real difference in the lives of school girls by visiting the rural parts of the country where access to basic needs such as sanitary pads may be an inconvenience. Andile Gaelesiwe (TV presenter from Khumbule Khaya) was among the mentors who shared their experiences and motivated the girls to stay in school.
Bhevu High School principal Gugu Ntshangase said that, “One of our learners, Zamantungwa Khumalo, wrote a letter to Always™ and pleaded with them to donate pads, as her friends and classmates were missing school and failing grades due to parents not being able to afford pads. Therefore, we are so elated that the Always Keeping Girls In School initiative has been supporting us for the past four years and we thank them for being able to reach us and include our learners as beneficiaries of such a generous gesture. Our girls can now fully focus on their schooling without the burden of worrying about where and how to get pads. They are now also equipped to understand the changes they go through as adolescents and we believe the lessons and motivation they received will go a long way towards reducing absenteeism at school.”
Research has indicated that underprivileged girls are absent an average of four to five days a month – equivalent to two weeks of learning in every school term. Over the course of her five-year high school career, a girl pupil could lose 195 learning days – almost 30 weeks out of 180. Essentially, she is viewed as a drop-out while still attending school and in many situations, she does drop out of school altogether. The reason for this is that many girls are not able to afford sanitary protection and often don’t understand what is happening to their bodies when they reach puberty.
P&G South Africa communication manager Thando Mazibuko says: “The Always Keeping Girls In School campaign aligns with P&G’s overall philosophy of touching and improving lives to make a remarkable difference in communities.”
“Our ultimate intention is to support the foundation laid by education in the girl-child’s life towards a meaningful and successful life. We believe the campaign is undoubtedly on the right track in this regard, as we are not only providing sanitary pads, but are also empowering the girls to stay focused on their long-term goals of finishing school,” she concludes.
