Dream climb to uplift teen girls
WHAT does a typical 16-year-old girl want for her birthday? A smartphone or jewellery? Or an expensive outfit?
No, not Sehera Bisnath. This teen wants a trip up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for sanitary wear needed by young disadvantaged and at-risk girls.
Now her parents have decided to sponsor just such an entire trip and all funds raised will be donated to Dignity Dreams, who will distribute washable sanitary wear and menstrual educational material to disadvantaged communities.
Dignity Dreams is an NGO that’s been manufacturing and distributing washable sanitary wear and menstrual education to young women for over four years.
Bisnath’s birthday, on May 23, coincides with International Menstrual Hygiene Management Day, which is celebrated worldwide on May 28. The event is registered with Menstrual Hygiene Day, an International organisation.
This year’s theme of “Education about Menstruation Changes Everything” speaks to Bisnath’s ambition.
Climbing Kilimanjaro will challenge her mentally and physically. She believes we all have “our own mountain to climb and in certain communities that mountain is poverty”.
“I thought I would focus my energy. I can share my 16th birthday and my voice with young women who cannot be heard. I want to raise awareness and as much money as I can to help these young women have access to sanitary wear and menstrual education.”
This climb, known as the #Sweet16 Summit is an important step towards lifting the taboos around menstruation, said Dignity Dreams’ Sharon Gordon.
“Sehera is setting an example to young girls everywhere. She can climb a mountain and be a young woman who menstruates, all at the same time. Her quest is supported by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
“Menstrual education and health is still considered as taboo, spoken about in hushed tones with myths passing from generation to generation. Having no access to menstrual education or products affects self-esteem, performance and participation in school and extra-curricular activities,” said Gordon.
Bisnath, from Ashton International College in Johannesburg, is documenting her preparation and training for her climb on her Facebook page, @sweet16summit.
She plans to summit with her dad and five other climbers on July 25.
Donate to Bisnath’s quest today by contacting Gordon on sharon@ dignitydreams. com visit www. dignitydreams.com for more information.