North girl on pads drive
This is to reduce the drop-out rate of girls at schools and to lessen the fear and shame for not having proper hygiene products.
A 21-year-old girl from Soshanguve, block V, relates to the situation of having no hygiene products as a girl.
Lea Hlongwane decided that she doesn’t want to see any girl going through what she did as a girl having periods during high school.
“This is to reduce the drop-out rate of girls at schools and to lessen the fear and shame for not having proper hygiene products. It all can result to mental health problems especially for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“I asked for some donations and I also buy pads every month as I am a working at a retail store. I want to help individuals that I know are in need of pads,” said Hlongwane.
She said more than 50 girls have benefited from her drive the past three months.
“The challenge I came across is that there are even more girls in need of sanitary pads. As a result I cannot cater for them all as I do not receive pads in large quantities,” she said.
Hlongwane said she targets girls from vulnerable families who cannot afford to buy sanitary pads for themselves.
READ MORE: North sanitary pad drive in full swing
“This is also to stop vaginal infections which can cause cervical cancer if girls do not use proper hygienic sanitary pads.
“As girls we have to empower each other and help to keep other girls at school,” said Hlongwane.
“I am a student and I stand firm in encouraging in keeping a girl at school through this drive. Most girls drop out because they don’t have feminine hygiene products,” Hlongwane added.
Hlongwane told Rekord that girls should be their sisters’ keepers.
“I strongly believe you don’t have to be rich to help someone. I started this drive with nothing in my pocket from the same shack house, but it’s the thought that counts. I’m from a disadvantaged background but helping someone starts with you,” Hlongwane concluded.
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
