We all have social responsibility

The Dalai Lama once said: “When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.”

I want to point out that as much as we all have rights, there are rights that may be impossible to exercise due to poverty.

In South Africa, education is a right and not a privilege, but an unfavourable background can unconsciously infringe on this right. It is an open secret that poverty is rife in our country, therefore, those who are privileged enough should assist those who are poor.

It may sound like an overstatement, but there are many girls who come from poor families who miss school due to lack of sanitary pads.

This is a very unfortunate circumstance because it stands on the way of their education, the very tool they need to emancipate themselves from poverty.

Business people should have a social responsibility for community development and donate sanitary towels and other toiletries that seem to block the path that leads to access to education.

No girl child should miss school because she cannot afford sanitary towels.

We need people who will stand up and identify these poor souls and ensure that they receive assistance. This way, they will also grow up knowing that we all need each other to succeed.