The United Nations estimates that one in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their period due to inadequate access to menstrual hygiene information and products.
This, statistics suggest, can add up to as much as 20% of a school year.
In her quest to end period poverty, Motlaletsi Charity Club Director- Agrieneth Masule, will walk 252 km from April 1st until April 15th, with the end goal of donating 20 000 sanitary pads to schools in Kgatleng over the next 12 months.
founded in 2016, Motlaletsi Charity Club has donated over 80 000 packs of pads over the past two years, with the hope to do even more. Last year’s charity walk raised over 22 000 pads from donations. The walk is one of the club’s efforts in fulfilling its mandate of addressing the social needs of locals in need of assistance.
According to Masule, the 252 km which stretches across villages in Kgatleng District translates to the number of pads a young girl uses in a year. “I will walk for about 20 to 30 km each day, and then set up camp to rest in the evenings. Throughout the walk, we will be collecting pad donations which will be distributed to selected schools thereafter.”
The club has already identified six schools in Kgatleng that will benefit from the campaign. “We have a six year relationship with the schools we will be donating to. These include Radikolo JSS, Linchwe JSS, Kgamanyane JSS, Bogatsu Primary School, Ithuteng JSS and Oodima JSS.”
“Additionally, we have a group of unemployed and out of school young ladies who we help on a regular basis.”
Through the campaign, Motlaletsi hopes to help young girls to take pride in their menstrual cycle and not let it hinder their academic excellence. “My intention is to raise awareness and sensitise the communities about the importance of menstrual hygiene, use of sanitary pads and how each young girl deserves a sanitary pad so they may never need to miss a day of school.”
Masule stresses the importance of coming to the aid of underprivileged young girls in order to help them break the cycle of poverty.
She says paying attention to and offering the needed guidance and assistance can help them to escape any kind of abuse and overcome the challenges they already have from their social background.
“This pads initiative is close to my heart because I believe everyone deserves a chance and no girl should miss school because of menstruation or be forced into relationships because they do not have money,” the former teacher shared.
She has called on the public and other stakeholders to join in on striking an end to period poverty.
