Matric dress campaign empowers girls

Underprivileged matric girls can now also have a special matric farewell thanks to the Cherry Blossom Project.

Puno Selesho, founder of the project, described it as vehicle to empower women.

Her vision was rooted in helping young girls from impoverished communities.

“We collect and lend out matric dance dresses to underprivileged girls in and around Pretoria,” she explained.

“We do our best to help the young girls we work with understand their worth and empower them to become movers and shakers in South Africa.”

Selesho said she was inspired by the girls she had met who were willing to work hard to achieve their goals.

“They believe in themselves.”

Selesho said it was the community’s responsibility to help raise a child.

“The community needs to believe in the children first and assist them in whatever way they can.”

The Cherry Blossom Project started in 2014 when Selesho took her own matric dance dress and lent it to the top achiever at Vlakfontein Secondary School in Mamelodi.

“From there, 12 other dresses were collected and donated to a children’s home in Bronkhorstspruit.”

As soon as the Facebook community heard about the initiative, it grew exponentially as many were eager to donate their dresses and make a girl feel like royalty for a day.

In 2015, the team held an symposium at the University of Pretoria for 40 matric girls from schools in Mamelodi and Atteridgeville.

The girls were treated to live entertainment, an inspirational talk, a makeover, lunch and of course they got to choose and fit a dress, jewellery and shoes for their special day.

Anyone wishing to donate a dress can drop it off at The Black Tie House in Hatfield Pretoria.

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