Winnie Radebe Foundation combats period poverty with school support initiative
The initiative enables young girls to attend classes with confidence and dignity, challenging the stigma around menstruation, and fostering a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for every girl child.
As part of the ongoing fight against period poverty, the Winnie Radebe Foundation donated menstrual hygiene products to Naledi High School and Emdeni Secondary School learners on May 22.
A total of 314 menstrual hygiene products were donated to ensure that no learner misses school because of a lack of menstrual products.
Founder of the foundation Winnie Radebe said this initiative enables young girls to attend classes with confidence and dignity, challenges the stigma around menstruation, and fosters a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for every girl child.
“We want to support our children in every possible way; we understand that many learners in local schools come from underprivileged backgrounds.
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“By providing menstrual hygiene products, we aim to reduce the pressures that can lead young girls to make harmful choices out of desperation.
“In some cases, girls engage in risky relationships with older men to access necessities. We aim to help prevent that by meeting their needs,” she said Radebe.
She further emphasised that this initiative will continue to support more schools, as she believes it plays a crucial role in safeguarding learners from engaging in risky behaviour.
Psycho-social worker Jessica Bhokwane said foundations like the Winnie Radebe Foundation play a vital role in making a meaningful difference in local schools.
“We come from a vulnerable community, which means many of our learners face daily challenges, especially regarding hygiene.
“Our learners often lack access to basic hygiene products, and I sincerely hope that stakeholders will find it in their hearts to support them by providing essential toiletries,” she said.
Bhokwane further expressed her gratitude for the support shown to vulnerable learners, noting that such efforts have a lasting impact on their lives and education.
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Grade 10 learner Nelisiwe Mashinini said, “I feel that we are one of the schools that are truly loved and supported.
Organisations like this bring real change into our lives, and we are so grateful.
“We know that not all of us come from families that can afford everything we need, so I believe this initiative helps prevent many of the negative choices that some girls feel forced to make just to meet their basic needs.”
