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Tafadzwa Zimoyo and Wellington Kudiwa
One of the finalists in the Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe 2015, Mercy Kamanura, has embarked on a project that will see the girl child benefiting. The model is set to donate sanitary wear today to girls from Seke communal lands after being touched by the story of a nine-year-old girl who is suffering from a menstruation disorder.
Kamanura said she will start her project at Jonas Primary and Secondary schools.
She has partnered with gospel singer Evelyn Mhaga and Farai, a company that sells sanitary wear, to donate items worth more than $500.
The campaign is running under the theme — ‘‘Nothing But Pads’’.
In an interview, the 24-year-old model said girls’ health issues should be taken seriously.
“You can be pretty, intelligent, tall or light but if your health is not good it will generally affect your lifestyle. I have been doing different visits at orphanages, old people’s villages and communal lands and have seen that donors are doing a great job, but there is a gap is evident and that is sanitary wear.
“I was so devastated when I read and heard the story of a nine-year-old who started menstruating and never stopped. The doctors diagnosed her with a rare uterus condition called endometriosis,” she said.
Kamanura said she will also use the opportunity to educate the girl child about their rights and health issues.
“I am a former child parliamentarian and honoured to have attended such initiatives that deal with girl child. It is our duty and responsibility to enlighten and educate those who don’t know how to handle such cases. We also read stories of how girls are using cloths and papers as sanitary wear and we have to assist in such issues,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mhaga said it is their duty to play a pivotal role in empowering the girl child.
“In order to develop the country, the girl child needs also to be included in various programmes. Let’s give them the education they want and assist. I pledge to sell first copies of my album and donate the cash to the victims,” she said.
“Artistes can help charities by picking from a range of topics — from environment, politics, health care, orphans, poverty, homelessness, astronomy and space, animals, women’s issues, and peace — to name a few. We can also seek opportunities to share our artistic talent to help in hospitals, libraries, museums and city councils. Artistes can help charities by offering a percentage of proceeds from sales of art,” she said.
She is billed to perform some of her songs during the donations.
Online Reporter