Menstruation is a taboo subject, a secret not spoken about. Young South African women, mostly from very low-income, uneducated, unemployed families and living in harsh conditions with little or no access to running water and ablution facilities, whether in an urban or rural environment, do not receive any financial, emotional or practical support and guidance from family members, schools or the co
mmunity regarding menstruation and puberty. They are left on their own to address the challenge, and as a result, school absenteeism rates are high and school performance is affected. The statistics seem to be 2.1 million young girls, between the ages of 12 and 18 years that are living below the poverty line in South Africa, need to resort to using old clothes, rags, newspapers, leaves, bark and grass because they cannot afford sanitary towels. Girls who cannot afford pads or tampons miss approximately five days of school a month, which amounts to 60 missed school days a year. This issue is obviously not restricted to school girls and affects impoverished women of all ages e.g. university students, young women seeking first time employment etc. ch challenges have created a viable opportunity for the planning and intended formation of an NPC whose sole purpose will be to ensure that young, school-going girls between the ages of 10-18 (Grade6 to Grade 12) across South Africa will have access to free feminine hygiene products on a monthly basis. If this can be done, we will be improving the education levels, the lives of these young women and make a significant impact on reducing the difficulties and hardships they face in an already hugely challenging environment. Comfort, dignity, support and independence are some of the basic human needs which will be addressed with this social venture. These young women will be given the dignity they deserve in dealing with their monthly menstruation. They will not need to miss school to stay at home to ‘bleed’ or use unhygienic and ineffective products (leaves, grass, rags, facecloths, dried cow dung or newspaper).
