While a young girl starting her menstrual cycle celebrates it as a coming-of-age milestone, in reality, for many from poorer backgrounds, it causes much stress and humiliation.
Three East London women whose work in community development has taken them across the province, observed how young girls sacrificed school days because they did not have proper sanitary products.
In response, Dagmawit Abebe, Asekho Motabene and Galit Cohen, combined their experience to start a non-profit organisation, Girls, Period!
The Girls, Period! team came up with a sustainable solution by developing reusable sanitary towels.
However, it took three years of research to find a suitable fabric for the pads, which are comfortable, washable, and reusable.
The high-quality sanitary towels, available at retail establishments, can last up to five years, making them affordable for lower-income families.
A regular blogger on issues of motherhood, gender equality and women in business, Abebe said the NPO sought to empower young girls through restoring their dignity and educating them on menstruation and proper hygiene.
The NPO also seeks to use environmentally-friendly material for the pads that can be reused for a maximum of three to five years.
“Through our research we found that pads are sometimes used and discarded on landfills, especially in rural areas.
“Our pad is washable and reusable and protects the environment and has a long lifespan.
“Our goal is to educate young girls about menstruation hygiene and to disseminate information in rural schools about the relevant changes in their bodies, as well as to address misconceptions and cultural barriers associated with menstruation,” she said, adding that the NPO also educated young girls on different sanitary materials they could use.
The NPO also includes young boys in the discussions so they can gain a better understanding of the difficulties that girls face during their menstrual cycles.
“When we train girls, we include boys because we believe that if they are educated, they will become the girls’ allies, assisting in the reduction of stigma and shame among the girls.”
Motabene, who works in community development, said they had been motivated by their own experiences when growing up to produce reusable, affordable sanitary towels.
“When we were younger, we could never afford to buy sanitary towels. We had to improvise, and we want the next generation to have a different experience.
“We came up with a product that is hygienic and safe to use and will ensure they don’t skip school when they have their periods.”
Cohen, the director of Ripples for Change, a South African organisation that strengthens rural communities, said the Girls, Period! NPO also aimed to mentor young girls.
We aim to build female leadership and to support the development of knowledgeable advocates for menstruation and women’s right in rural communities
“We aim to build female leadership and to support the development of knowledgeable advocates for menstruation and women’s right in rural communities.”
She urged the government not to award sanitary towel tenders to firms who only wanted to enrich themselves, while disregarding the needs of the beneficiaries.
“The government should stop granting tenders to people who are only interested in their benefits and start approving people who understand the struggles associated with menstrual cycles and can offer emotional support to young girls.”
Galit said the NPO aimed to to establish clubs in different schools that would offer emotional support to girls.
DispatchLIVE
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