Leshabane saves girls with sanitary supply
AFTER hearing the touching story of a girl who stole her neighbour’s underwear to avoid missing out on school due to her menstrual cycle, Mrs South Africa runner-up Olwethu Leshabane wanted to make a difference.
The model and TV presenter set up an organisation called Red Wings in 2014, to provide sanitary towels to young women in underprivileged areas and to campaign for the free distribution of sanitary towels.
“I was introduced to a woman who cleans our offices. She told me a story of a girl who was caught stealing the neighbours’ panties from their washing lines. The girl was beaten by her grandmother for the crime.
“Eventually she explained the reason why – she discovered she was on her menstrual cycle… the community was in desperate need for the awareness of the issue – sanitary products and sanitary education for girls and women,” Leshabane said.
She said women’s health and female hygiene should top policy issues at a governmental level.
Leshabane also bemoaned the lack of ablution and sanitary facilities in rural communities.
“For too long the issue of menstruation has been a hush topic. A lot of education needs to be done,” Leshabane said.
The government should also be taking steps to address the issue.
“Can we perhaps start by removing tax on sanitary products for women? Sanitary towels could also be distributed for free, just like condoms”, Leshabane said. “Sex is a choice, menstruation is not. ”
Leshabane said they had provided sanitary towels for 5000 girls on a monthly basis last year.
People who would like to donate can access the Red Wings website at www.redwingsproject.com