Coming to the aid of school girls

STUDIES show that girls between 12 and 18 who live in poverty are deprived of about 20% of their high school education because they cannot afford feminine hygiene products and are too embarrassed to go to school during menstruation.

The Dis-Chem Foundation, committed to improving the lives of all South Africans, is a beneficiary of DisChem Group’s Benefits Programme. This means Dis-Chem and Baby City Benefit Card members support the foundation every time they shop and swipe their cards at both retailers because a percentage of the purchase value is donated to the Dis-Chem Foundation to help supplement the funds.

The Million Comforts Campaign is an ongoing foundation initiative to provide sanitary products every year to teenage girls in need. Running since 2015, it is devoted to the empowerment of schoolgirls, raising awareness about women’s health, and giving these girls the opportunity to continue their education without the burden of hygiene risks, discomfort, embarrassment or the loss of dignity.

In 2021, Dis-Chem and the Million Comforts Campaign reached an ambitious target of 11 million sanitary towels for donation through a corporate drive as well as in-store contributions which were matched with equal donations by participating brands. A far cry from their first goal in 2015, which was to amass 1 million sanitary towels, this demonstrates the growth in their goal toward sustainable feminine hygiene.

As a result, the Dis-Chem Foundation and Million Comforts recently delivered a shipment of 3 million sanitary towels to the Imbumba Foundation for distribution through their Caring4Girls Programme.