Local project to tackle ‘period poverty’ shame
MANY South African girls are being held back by 'period shame' and 'period poverty' - something one local woman hopes to end through discussion and donations.
Balungile Sibiya - or
Balu as she's known - established Sekusile Women’s Organisation in St Lucia as a way to promote menstrual health, hygiene, and puberty education.
"All women go through the same cycle but this is challenging for those who don’t have access to basic sanitary hygiene products. “We need to move from fear to freedom through the journey of a girl child," she explained.
Through Sekusile,
Balu launched the Girl Child project, which involves teachers and local communities in promoting the self-esteem of young women.
"Many rural communities lack access to basic hygiene resources because food security is more of a concern. Given these challenges, we aim to raise awareness about period shame and period poverty while providing resources to young girls," she said.
The Girl Child project aims to:
• Promote menstrual health, hygiene, and puberty education and awareness
• Create awareness about period shame and period poverty
• Distribute hygiene packs consisting of a toothbrush, toothpaste, face cloth, soap, sanitary pads, and an antiseptic
• Encourage boys to support girls by eliminating the stigma around periods and sanitary pads
• Create a dialogue around gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy and HIV.
The organisation distributed 150 hygiene packs to young women at Manguzi Gijima at the end of September, as well as a further 250 packs at the Umcimbi wezintombi event this month.
"Since the inception of Sekusile, we have formed meaningful relationships with key stakeholders, and we adhere to all safety, health, regulatory and compliance requirements," said Balu.
Anyone who would like to support the
Girl Child project with donations for the hygiene packs can contact Balu on 082 9477092.