Mall shoppers support ‘Keep a Girl in School’
EVERY month, Dinika Rooy, 29, goes the extra mile by donating sanitary pads to various BCM primary schools, as part of her “Keep a Girl in School” initiative.
Rooy, who hails from Buffalo Flats, was thrilled with the success of a drive held at the weekend at the Vincent Shopping Mall, where she put two boxes outside the Pick n Pay for people to donate sanitary pads.
More than 200 sanitary pads were donated by shoppers to the mall.
Rooy started the “Keep A Girl in School” initiative a year ago after realising many young girls from disadvantaged areas missed school because they could not afford sanitary pads.
“A girl came to me last year asking for pads because she did not have money to buy for herself. I gave some to her, and then I wondered how many other girls must be facing the same situation.
“I did my research and I found out that about seven million girls in South Africa are actually going through the same problem and that is where the drive to help stemmed from,” she said.
After collecting donations, she then nominates the primary schools that she will donate to. This month, the donations will be going to Pefferville Primary School and Lujiza Public Primary School in Duncan Village.
Buffalo City Riders (BCR) also supported the drive.
BCR member Teboho Kalele said the club was passionate about helping “the poor and ensuring that our girls stay in school”.
Rooy aims to expand the drive to high schools and other parts of the province.