Period poverty is a global issue affecting millions of women and girls, preventing them from accessing the menstrual products and education they need to manage their periods with dignity. In South Africa, the situation is no different, with many young women missing school and other vital activities due to a lack of sanitary products. This Women’s Month, discover how you can support these initiatives and help empower women and girls across the country.
What is Period Poverty?
Period poverty refers to the inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products, education, toilets, handwashing facilities, and waste management. This issue affects millions of menstruating women and girls globally, leading to significant social, economic, and health consequences. The stigma and lack of resources force many to use unhygienic alternatives or miss school and work, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.
The MENstruation Foundation: Combating Stigma and Providing Access
The MENstruation Foundation is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to ending period poverty in South Africa. Their mission is to break the stigma surrounding menstruation and provide practical solutions to ensure girls can manage their periods with dignity.
How You can Help:
- Donate: Your contributions can help install more sanitary pad dispensing machines in schools.
- Volunteer: Join their efforts to spread awareness and education about menstrual health.
The CORA Project: Education and Resources for Menstruation
The CORA Project is a women-led nonprofit organisation focused on supporting menstruation from underprivileged communities. By educating and raising awareness about menstruation, CORA aims to normalise conversations and eliminate the stigma surrounding periods.
How You can Help:
- Support Their Programmes: Donations fund educational initiatives and resource distribution.
- Participate in Workshops: Help facilitate or attend workshops to spread menstrual health knowledge.
Caring4Girls: Empowering Young Girls through Education
Caring4Girls, an initiative of the Imbumba Foundation, addresses school absenteeism among girls due to inadequate access to sanitary protection. By providing menstrual products and education, Caring4Girls helps young women stay in school and reach their full potential.
How You can Help:
- Contribute: Donations go towards purchasing and distributing sanitary products.
- Engage in Fundraising: Host events or campaigns to raise money for their cause.
Project Dignity: Sustainable Solutions for Menstrual Health
Project Dignity, supported by Subz Pants and Pads, provides eco-friendly, reusable sanitary products to young girls. This initiative aims to reduce school absenteeism and dropout rates by offering long-lasting, sustainable solutions.
How You can Help:
- Donate Subz Packs: Contributions provide reusable sanitary packs to girls in need.
- Volunteer: Assist in distributing packs and educating communities about menstrual health.
Conclusion
Period poverty is a critical issue that requires collective effort to address. This Women’s Month, let’s support The MENstruation Foundation, The CORA Project, Caring4Girls, and Project Dignity in their mission to provide menstrual products and education to those in need.
ALSO SEE: WAYS TO SUPPORT WOMEN IN SOUTH AFRICA THIS WOMEN’S MONTH
