Grade 11 pupils donate sanitary towels
A sanitary towel donation drive has enabled young girls at Bhongolwethu Primary School in Philippi, who would previously have missed school when menstruating, to continue with their education.
This donation comes after Nokubonga Mashiqa, a Grade 11 pupil from Intsebenziswano Senior Secondary School in Philippi, saw the need to extend a helping hand.
Ms Mashiqa was accompanied by her peers and teacher to donate 100 sanitary towels to Bhongolwethu Primary School pupils.
The outspoken young girl who hails from Philippi said a young girl from her community would always come up to her and ask for extra sanitary towels when she reached her monthly menstrual cycle.
At first, she said she never gave much thought about it but when this young girl continuously asked for an extra sanitary towel every month she felt that she needed to do something to help.
Ms Mashiqa said she then started putting aside her lunch money to buy extra sanitary towels.
In addition, she said sanitary towels at her school are made available to them freely monthly and she would keep one for this girl.
She then shared this story with her mother and came up with the idea to buy sanitary towels and donate them at the school which the girl attends.
She was excited when her mother endorsed her idea and her school teacher was also excited to join in the campaign.
“I believe that the donation of these sanitary towels would bring dignity to these young girls.
“I believe that a lot of young girls drop out of school as they are made to suffer the indignity of being teased by their peers when they go through their menstrual cycle especially when one does not have the sanitary towels.
“And if one cannot afford sanitary towels they have to miss school when they are menstruating.
“This is natural but because some of us are not able to afford it, we feel embarrassed and ashamed. I don't come from a well off family but this is the little that I can do and I believe that everyone in their corners can do a little to make a difference in their community,” she said.
Ms Mashiqa said they shared their experiences on how they discovered their first period and were told not to feel ashamed.
Teacher at Bhongolwethu Primary School, Nompumelelo Mpiti, said as the school they are excited about this initiative and donation as it plays a role in educating young girls about menstruation.
Ms Mpiti said sometimes it is essential when peers empower each other as they speak a language in terms which they understand better.
But she hopes that the school would receive sanitary towels which they can give out freely because not every parent can afford them.
School teacher at Ntsebenziswano Secondary School, Misiwe Matete, said she feels proud that Ms Mashiqa thought of donating sanitary towels.
She said this speaks volumes about the importance of ensuring that one looks after each other and as a teacher she is proud that young people are able to step up and make a difference.
