Keep a Girl Child in Class

We have identified that most girl learners miss some days of their schooling due to factors such as

teenage pregnancy and menstrual cycles because of lack of sanitary towels.

Dyondzo Pambili Foundation therefore initiated a project called Keep a Girl Child in Class. The main

objective of the project is to provide sanitary towels to rural schools. The initiative was started after

thorough research conducted by one of our executive members. We also aim to create awareness of

teenage problems which affect female learners such as teenage pregnancy. We also aim to provide a

continuous supply of sanitary towels to schools in the rural areas for the disadvantaged learners.

This will help reclaim the pride of female learners in the school environment as well as to bring up

young women with dignity in society.

Research shows that in Africa young girls will often share their sanitary towels (usually scrap cloth)

with their mothers or other women in the household. Of course they are washed thoroughly

between uses, but venereal diseases can be transmitted through sharing in spite of that.

Also, the study shows that most of these underprivileged girls miss school for at least four days each

month over menstruation. These issues are not talked about in other areas like Limpopo (Giyani),

due to embarrassment, lack of understanding and the low priority of such problems in the face of

starvation, violence, death, illiteracy and the many struggles of daily life.

Due to affordability constraints, buying sanitary pads remains a challenge for millions of girls and

women in South Africa. They are at a permanent disadvantage as they are forced to stay at home as

they are unable to afford this basic necessity.

Many girls use unhygienic alternatives to sanitary pads, such as newspaper or even sand and leaves,

which puts them at a huge risk of infection.

A lot of the girls are from child-headed homes and do not have anyone at home to talk to about

these crucial issues.