SA-based pair in buy-a-pad campaign

23 Feb, 2020 - 00:02 0 Views
SA-based pair in buy-a-pad campaign Ms Yvonne Maphosa

The Sunday News

Sinokuthaba Dube, Sunday News Reporter

TWO Zimbabweans based in South Africa have started a buy-a-pad-campaign, aimed at raising funds to assist underprivileged girls in Matabeleland provinces with sanitary pads.

The campaigns which are held separately by Zimbabwean author, Ms Yvonne Maphosa and comedian, Mr Oliver Keith are aimed at ensuring that girls in rural areas have access to sanitary pads and are able to fully concentrate on their studies.

In an interview, Ms Maphosa said she was in the process of registering a foundation that will spearhead the campaign. She said the campaign would include males as they are also key in ensuring that women get the necessary respect.

“I have high hopes that this initiative will go a long way in assisting girls in the rural areas. I am now in the process of registering my foundation looking forward to raise as many pads as possible with the help of well-wishers,” she said.

Ms Maphosa praised men who are now taking a leading role in championing the cause of the girl child.

“I was happy to see men flocking in to assist with donations, that was an awesome gesture coming from them and for that I would like to send a big thank you to everyone who participated and would like to encourage more men to participate,” she said.

She said girls face a lot of challenges during menstruation and some were missing school and were not taking part in extra-curricular activities up to a week if they do not have sanitary pads.

“Lack of sanitary pads has a huge impact on the girl child as they use unsanitary materials like cow dung, pieces of old blankets, cloths which at the end of the day compromises their health and academic career while giving a negative impact on their self-esteem,” said Ms Maphosa.

She said she has managed to secure 1 000 pads while more donations were still trickling in. Zimbabwean comedian who is also an events MC based in South Africa, Mr Keith has also formed his own foundation called Oliver Keith Foundation aimed at restoring the dignity of young girls by distributing sanitary wear.

The foundation that started off as an encouragement to people to include a packet of sanitary pads in their trolley every time they go shopping has gone a long way in assisting young girls. He said the foundation is looking at raising at least US$2 000 to buy sanitary wear by Easter holidays.

“The sanitary pads campaign started in 2016 after I had visited rural schools for a youth career programme with another foundation which I was part of. I spoke to a lot of young girls who suffer the brunt of not having sanitary pads and decided to start my own foundation to assist in that area seeing that sanitary wear is meant to be a woman’s right. The response is low for now, but I am hoping it will pick up as we approach Easter holidays, we are expecting to raise at least US$2 000 to buy sanitary wear needed,” he said. 

The foundation has donated the sanitary wear to different schools as far as Tsholotsho, Binga, Lupane and to organisations like King George V1 Children’s Centre, Thembalethu Foundation, as well as A Life A Day. —@Loxtiongodess

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