Partnership provides free sanitary products for female high school pupils

TWO southern secondary schools are among eight across the South Island receiving free sanitary products for female pupils as part of a new partnership between St John and Dignity NZ.

Dignity NZ provides a women’s wellbeing initiative, which allows corporates to purchase a subscription to have sanitary items provided at their workplace, and in turn support a ‘‘buy one, give one’’ model to provide sanitary items to girls in secondary schools who are going without.

It aimed to help some girls in schools who could not afford these items and, in some circumstances, could not attend school due to lack of access.

St John South Island community programmes manager Suzy Mitchell said the partnership was a natural fit with existing programmes building resilience, creating equitable access and improving health outcomes in young people.

Tokomairiro High School, in Milton, and Aurora College, in Invercargill, are among the eight schools benefiting from the initiative.

Dignity NZ cofounders Jacinta Gulasekharam and Miranda Hitching said they were delighted to see St John taking such progressive action towards supporting women.

‘‘Their commitment to the community goes above and beyond as demonstrated by this initiative.

‘‘The choice to be a progressive employer and acknowledge periods makes them a leader in the employee wellbeing space.

‘‘As well as supporting their own staff, St John will be supporting 1700 girls to have access to sanitary items in eight schools across the South Island, which will have a significant impact on those students’ wellbeing and their dignity.’’

Tokomairiro High School deputy principal Andrew King said the initiative was very helpful to the school’s core purpose.

‘‘It is important to us that students can focus on their learning.

‘‘This important initiative from Dignity NZ and St John allows us to support our community by removing a potential barrier for some.’’