Sanitary towel drive brings joy
Sinovuyo makes his birthday wish come true
SINOVUYO Mzongwana turned 20 last week – but instead of having a huge party with his friends, he decided to raise funds to buy sanitary towels for schoolgirls.
Mzongwana asked his friends to help him raise money to buy 5 000 sanitary towels.
Currently a pack of 10 sanitary towels could cost anything between R30 and R60 – depending on the brand. For girls from poor households, the only option is to use a cloth as some cannot afford to buy sanitary towels.
Aware of the need, Mzongwana decided to tell friends they should not buy him gifts for his birthday but, instead, help him with his initiative focused on disadvantaged schools around East London.
And this was the start of his #keepagirlinschool sanitary drive.
With the help of Facebook friends and small companies, Mzongwana and three friends who came on board to assist him, started collecting cash and donations of sanitary towels. They have since collected more than 3 500 pads, which they will be handing out in schools in Mdantsane, Nxarhuni, Dice and Duncan Village.
Yesterday, the four young men handed out 458 pads to the first school on their list. Every girl from Grades 8 to 12 at Ulwazi Secondary School in Mdantsane received a pack of sanitary towels.
This will help some of the girls who elect to stay at home during their menstrual cycle, to actually attend school at least for a month.
Well-known public figures such as former ANC youth league leader, Vuyiswa Tulelo, were the first to advocate free sanitary towels for young girls. “This project began last month. At first it was weird, a group of guys asking for pad donations, but I felt compelled to do something about the war cry of girls being unable to attend school when they DO YOU know a selfless person who goes the extra mile for the good of others, a local hero who makes something good out of nothing but a desire to improve the quality of life for the community. That’s the person we would like to meet! Please send your nomination with your local heroe’s name and contact number together with yours to: are going through their monthly menstruation.
“My friends offered to help me, and the campaign grew. More people got involved and the drive gained momentum.”
Mzongwana is driven to do more to make a difference in people’s lives. Ulwazi principal Nomampondomise Kosani said: “I am excited. The pupils are excited. It is amazing what Sinovuyo and his friends have done for us. This is not something I get to see every day. We are truly grateful”. — nonsindisoq@dispatch.