To address the issue of sanitary towels, which has been cited as a nightmare for many young girls in South Africa, Murugas Sisterhood, an organisation that assists young girls gain access to sanitary products, returns with its annual Sanitary Pad Drive.
This social motorcycle club is playing an instrumental role in reaching and supporting communities in need, returning to assist young girls from KwaZulu-Natal who lack access to sanitary products.
The head of the Sisterhood Durban Chapter, Juliet Chetty, discloses that the organisation does a lot of community outreach and that their objective for the current year is to provide 30 000 sanitary towels to five organisations that assist underprivileged girls.
“We engage in a lot of community outreach, be it in the form of distributing food parcels or offering hands-on assistance to families in need. Outreach is very close to our hearts, and we firmly believe that you never become poor by giving,” says Chetty.
It is reported that the riders previously collected over 20 000 sanitary towels, which they donated to two disadvantaged schools and a safe haven that provides a temporary home for children seeking refuge from abuse.
It is reported that the lack of sanitary towels disempowers women and negatively impacts their health, leading to unsanitary alternatives like old rags, toilet paper, garments, and newspapers during menstruation.
Murugas Sisterhood held a Women’s Day luncheon in Durban, focussing on women empowerment, health, and financial wellness.
Attendees were requested to donate a pack of sanitary towels, which were to be added to the 4 800 packs previously collected. In total, the group managed to reach their goal, collecting 30 000 sanitary towel packs this year.
It is reported that all donated pads will be sent to the five groups on August 17.
South Africa’s top fibre network operator, Vuma, has partnered with the organisation for their annual sanitary pad drive, promoting the ‘Because we can, we must’ principle.
“As citizens of this country, we have a responsibility to support initiatives that aim to uplift young girls and help restore their dignity, both in academics and social settings. By helping Murugas Sisterhood in achieving the goal to distribute 30 000 sanitary towels in this year’s pad drive, we are ensuring that young girls are not left behind due to challenges beyond their control, such as menstruation,” says Scelo Zulu, regional manager at Vuma.
The Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za