A local liquor trader and other organisations providing young people with skills donated packs of 100 sanitary pads and toiletries to Refentse Primary School on Tuesday.

The Concerned Tshwane Liquor Traders Association (CTLTA), known as Ma Concerner, and Vision Academy NPO donated the items as part of their celebration of Youth Month and Father’s Day. They hope the donations will encourage learners to follow their dreams.

Learners received sanitary pads, washing towels, Vaseline, toothbrushes, soaps, and hair dye for when the schools reopen for the third term, which starts on July 21.

Chairperson of the CTLTA, Oupa Mthombeni, said they also raised awareness about drugs and substance abuse in the community of Mamelodi.

“We have partnered with Vision Academy, a modelling agency, after they approached us about giving to the community. We gladly welcomed the challenge to buy sanitary pads for schoolgirls, and we even went a step further and decided to buy schoolboy toiletry packs.

“Our organisation is known for visiting local schools and raising awareness about underage drinking, warning traders against selling alcohol to minors and continuously reminding traders to adhere to the Liquor Act,” said Mthombeni.

He said the sanitary pads will help girls not to skip school when it’s ‘that time of the month’, and the toiletry kits are also part of teaching learners about hygiene and taking care of themselves.

He said the learners can always look forward to going to school every day without any stress.

Mthombeni said the donations were handed out to the Grade 7 learners to take home and leftover sanitary pads were donated to the school as backup in case a child ran out.

“No schoolgirl or young woman should bunk classes because they can’t afford sanitary pads when we have the ability to assist them as businessmen.”

Professional model and founder of Vision Academy NGO, Mandisa Mohlala (19), said: “The reason for our pad drive and hygiene drive is because we have noticed that in our community there is a lot of shortage of hygiene products.

“Most of our youth do not have the necessary equipment to keep themselves clean and ensure that they keep their health in check.”

“We, as Vision Academy and Miss Royale Elegance, decided to do a pads and hygiene drive to support our youth and the young leaders of tomorrow.”

Virginia Thobakgale from Refentse Primary School thanked the organisations on behalf of the learners, school, and school governing body for their generous donations.

Thobakgale said the donations came just at the right time.

“We are also happy that the two organisations saw that there is a need at Refentse Primary School.

“We also believe that the message shared with our learners will help them make the right decisions.

“These donations should not end here with our learners at Refentse Primary School. May God give the two organisations strength to assist other schools in Mamelodi.”

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