Foundation donates shoes and pads to local primary school
"I grew up in a poverty-stricken family and so I understand what those children went through."
The Meisie Motaung Foundation donated 51 school shoes and over 50 sanitary pads to Reatlegile Primary School in Mabopane last week.
Founder of the organisation Meisi Motaung said she had been donating to the school since 2018.
Last year, they donated pads and toiletries.
“I grew up in a poverty-stricken family and so I understand what those kids go through,” she said.
“I also reside in the same area and I can see the challenges affecting these children almost every day because some come from disadvantaged families.
“Some of the children even come to my house to ask if I can help them with sanitary pads.”
Motaung said some of the children have to go to school wearing sneakers because they cannot afford school shoes.
“Sometimes those sneakers are often torn and shoddy while others do not have sanitary pads.”
She said going to school while she was having her periods was “too difficult” as she sometimes had to use toilet paper or paper as sanitary towels.
“Often the tissues would leak and the paper would give you an infection. Sometimes, I would have to use a cloth and that would also leak.
“A few times a person would tell me that my tunic was bloody, which was very embarrassing.”
Motaung believed government should do more to help young girls by making pads free.
“I feel like somehow the government is failing us because condoms are for free while pads are for sale, but menstruation is not a choice.”
She encouraged those who want to donate sanitary pads to do so as it would help a lot of young girls at the school.
“Let’s go out and change the lives of these children and put smiles on their faces by donating sanitary pads. That will brighten their future as education is a key to success.
“Some of the children have to skip school for a week because they are having their periods – and that is a problem. I would be very happy if someone can help.”
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