Hygienic relief for women
500 packs of sanitary towels handed to Jimsebos community
MONDAY JUNE 13 2016
AFTER a random visit in August to the Jimsebos community outside Grassy Park, to drop off leftover cake after her son’s birthday, Jade Benjamin, 33, was struck by the need in the community.
Benjamin, a pastry chef at GrandWest Casino, decided to start a drive to collect and distribute sanitary towels to the women in the community.
She decided on sanitary towels after reading about the difficulties homeless women have during their menstrual cycles and how many young girls in rural and low-income communities often missed school during their period.
“I decided to do my part and help them by donating sanitary towels.”
Yesterday, Heart FM supported Benjamin’s project as part of the radio station’s #16DaysForYouth campaign, along with partners Sun International and GrandWest Casino.
“After visiting their community I saw how they were living and these people needed a helping hand. I then decided to donate old clothes and food because most of the people were struggling,” Benjamin said.
She hopes her son will also learn the art of giving. Her efforts have grown since last year, and so far she has managed to clothe and feed 150 people. Yesterday, 500 packs of sanitary towels were handed over to the Jimsebos community and tubes of toothpaste were also given to the children. Group CSI manager for Sun International, Heidi Edson vowed to keep supporting Benjamin’s initiative.
She believes the youth are the future and that they need to be empowered in order for them to stand up and give back to their communities.
“It is important to give back to the youth. By donating these sanitary towels, Jade is keeping the dignity and pride of these women intact,” Edson said.
“It is always lovely to see someone give back to her community.”
Sasha Benjamin, 24, who supports her sister in her project, said Jade was someone who did not help out for publicity, but for the love of helping others.
“Jade is very giving and is always looking out for the next person. She is very quiet, so she will help many people without telling people of what she has done,” said Sasha.
Jimsebos resident Cynthia Blaaw was happy to receive the sanitary towels, saying she had no money to buy pads.
Another resident, Andiswa Thembani, said: “I am very happy and appreciative to Jade because we never get pads donated to us and most of us do not have any money to buy them for ourselves and our family members”