OUTSTANDING FAITH, 14, SHOWS HER COURAGE, COMPASSION, NOBILITY
Faith Raduva does not have superpowers. She does not have a cape and mask, but this teenager is a hero.
And she is testament to the fact that heroes can come in any shape, size or age.
Her ability to reach out to the many women, who are in need of sanitary pads and supply it to them, is impressive and outstanding. She has started a campaign and has been providing women, young and old with sanitary hygiene packs for over a year now.
And she hopes to convince the Government into supplying sanitary pads free to all school girls.
Faith, 14, started this campaign of supplying sanitary pads after encountering stories of what women young and old, even school girls had to go through because they could not buy proper sanitary pads.
“I’ve heard about period poverty from friends in primary school and the stigmatisation associated with menstruation and hygiene in their families and communities,” Faith said.
“My mother also had her fair share of period poverty at a time when we were very little and she was looking for work. So this is an issue that is very dear to me.”
Campaign going strong
She started her campaign from money her sister loaned her. Since then she has not stopped. At times husbands call for assistance for their wives.
“And when we started to reach out to families, we were also confronted with the reality on the ground – period poverty was talked about behind closed doors,” she said.
“Some women told us about the inadequate ways and items used to soak up menstrual blood using old bedsheets, socks, newspaper, toilet paper, old tee shirts and pieces of blankets.
“Using improvised materials to manage their periods can pose a health risk.”
Her parents Peceli and Moira Raduva are her pillars of strength even to the extent of contributing from their own pockets to support Faith’s cause.
The Jai Narayan College, Year Nine student has been getting messages from young men to help their sisters and mothers.
A normal teenager
Faith is the middle child. Her older sister AnnMary Raduva, 17, is known for her stand on the environment and her youngest sibling Eunice Raduva is just three.
“I am from Viwa, Bau, Tailevu and have maternal links to ‘Upu, Malha’a in Rotuma. There’s only five of us – my parents, my two siblings and I,” she said
“I am a former student of Nehru Memorial Primary School and Dilkusha Girls School in Nausori.
“When I am not campaigning to end period poverty, I like to do normal things that teenagers do like following BTS and K-Pop, I love playing musical instruments and I have a ukulele and a guitar. I also love baking pies and cookies for my family.
“I love to travel too – and God willing when borders open, I would like to visit my ma’pigas (grandparents) in Dubai again.”
She is exploring collaboration with local women groups to see how cloth pads can be promoted.
This is environment friendly and affordable for girls and women who are financially struggling to afford pads.
“My father also does the “pads run” to buy from the supermarkets and he has encountered many “stares” and questions on why he is doing the buying,” said Faith.
“He also advocates and breaks down the shame of being seen at the sanitary care aisle or to be seen with pads.”
Faith believes if everyone starts caring about little things and do their bit, the world can become a better place.
When I am not campaigning to end period poverty, I like to do normal things that teenagers do like following BTS and K-Pop, I love playing musical instruments and I have a ukulele and a guitar. I also love baking pies and cookies for my family. Faith Raduva 14-year-old campaigner to end period poverty