Sphamandla Dlamini
Nhlazatshe Zion Magazine is calling on members of the public to support its sanitary pad drive, which aims to tackle period poverty in communities across Nhlazatshe and surrounding areas.
According to the organisation’s co-founder, Sphamandla Dlamini, the initiative seeks to ensure that no girl misses school because of her period and that no woman has to choose between buying food and sanitary products.
“Our main objective is to fight period poverty in our communities. We hope to achieve that no girl misses school and no woman has to choose between food and sanitary products,” said Dlamini.
He said the campaign also aims to restore dignity, improve school attendance and raise awareness about menstrual health.
The organisation is appealing to the public to donate new and sealed sanitary pads for both teenagers and adults, including day and overnight pads. Monetary donations will also be accepted to enable the organisation to purchase pads in bulk.
Volunteers are also needed to assist with packing, distribution and menstrual health awareness workshops.
Donations to benefit vulnerable women and girls
The donated sanitary products will be distributed to schools, community centres and vulnerable households in Nhlazatshe and surrounding areas.
The intended beneficiaries include schoolgirls from Grade 5 to Grade 12, young women in tertiary institutions and women from low-income households who struggle to afford sanitary products each month.
Dlamini said the organisation aims to reach a significant number of girls and women during this phase, with each beneficiary receiving a three- to six-month supply pack.
He said the initiative was inspired by stories the organisation hears from communities, where girls continue to miss school during their periods and women struggle to afford menstrual products.
“We believe dignity should not be a luxury, and we want to use our platform to turn awareness into action,” he said.
Education forms part of the campaign
Dlamini said what sets the initiative apart is its community-rooted approach.
As a local magazine, Nhlazatshe Zion Magazine plans to combine the distribution of sanitary products with menstrual health education, while using its platform to help break the stigma surrounding menstruation through stories and community dialogues.
The organisation will work with school principals, School Governing Bodies (SGBs) and community leaders to identify beneficiaries. Distributions will be tracked and conducted with dignity and privacy, with follow-ups planned to assess the impact of the programme.
The organisation is also partnering with schools, churches and community groups in Nhlazatshe and surrounding areas and remains open to additional partnerships.
The pad drive forms part of a long-term programme, with plans to run the campaign quarterly and eventually establish “Pad Banks” at schools to ensure girls have access to sanitary products throughout the year.
“A pad should never cost a girl her education,” said Dlamini.
He encouraged individuals and organisations to contribute, saying every donation could help provide dignity, confidence and an opportunity for girls to remain in class.
Those who would like to donate can contact Sphamandla Dlamini on 076 766 8430.
