Two organisations change 67 000 girls lives
RANDPARK RIDGE – The Imbumba Foundation partnered with West Pack Lifestyle to give each of these girls sanitary packs.
The Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4Girls programme supported 67 000 girls across South Africa in honour of Women’s Month.
In December 2020, the foundation launched its very own Caring4Girls branded sanitary towels to ensure the sustainability of the programme. These sanitary towels are said to be of high absorbent quality, South African Bureau of Standards approved, affordable and locally manufactured which also contributes to job creation.
In March this year, the organisation launched retail partnerships, one being with West Pack Lifestyle who listed the Caring4Girls pads for free and pledged to match every donation made with another packet. At only R10 per packet, customers could support the initiative and donate online or in-store at the West Pack Lifestyle tills. On Mandela Day, the foundation announced that West Pack Lifestyle stores had collectively raised enough sanitary towels to support 67 000 girls. The distribution to the 67 000 girls kick-started on August 9.
Research is said to have shown that a girl child misses up to 50 days of school in a year due to the lack of adequate menstrual hygiene support, while some drop out completely. While a few individuals and organisations have begun to shed light on the impact of the lack of adequate sanitary protection, this issue continues to affect girl children in many different parts of the country.
The Imbumba Foundation is one of the leading organisations involved in addressing the issues around period poverty which has become more prevalent during the global pandemic.
“We are grateful and excited to form such partnerships as it ensures that all girls, regardless of race and status, have access to equal opportunities educationally, economically and socially,” said Richard Mabaso, Founder of Imbumba Foundation.
The partnership between West Pack Lifestyle and the foundation will positively impact thousands of young girls, aligned with this year’s theme ‘Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights for an Equal Future’, to ensure that girl child have an equal opportunity to work towards a bright future for themselves as well as the nation at large.
