Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
MORE than 130 girls from Nechishala Secondary School in Hwange District received reusable sanitary pads on Friday, thanks to a drive by Caltex Braford aimed at restoring dignity among rural girls and tackling period poverty.
The donation was made possible through a partnership between Caltex and the Pathways Women Empowerment and Girl Child Support Network.
Each package included a reusable sanitary pad, towel, soap, two pairs of underwear, and a bag.
As part of the initiative, the learners also attended a sexual and reproductive health rights session facilitated by Ambassador for Women’s Health, Ms Sehlislo Dube. The training covered menstruation management, hygiene, sexual abuse, drug abuse, and included practical demonstrations on how to use the reusable pads.
Period poverty — the lack of access to safe and affordable menstrual products — remains a significant challenge for girls in rural areas.
Many are forced to use unhygienic alternatives such as rags, cow dung, or newspapers, which can lead to infections, discomfort, and embarrassment.
In some cases, girls miss school during their menstrual cycles, falling behind in their studies, which affects their academic performance and self-confidence.
Others drop out completely, reinforcing cycles of poverty and inequality.
Speaking during the handover event, Caltex Braford Lubricants Hwange sales executive, Mr Fortune Masarira, said the donation formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.
“As a company, we believe our responsibility goes beyond providing world-class lubricants to keep industries moving.
We are also committed to uplifting the communities where we operate. We know that access to sanitary ware is a challenge for many young girls.
This often affects not only their confidence but also their education. By providing these reusable sanitary kits, we hope to ensure that no girl misses school because of a lack of access to basic hygiene products,” said Masarira.
Masarira urged the girls to “take pride in who you are, work hard, and believe in your potential,” while also thanking teachers and parents for supporting the learners.
Pathways Women Empowerment and Girl Child Support Network has been working with rural schools to fight period poverty by training women and girls to sew reusable sanitary pads.
This not only empowers women with life skills but also ensures the sustainability of menstrual health interventions.
The organisation has rolled out similar projects in other communities, combining health education with economic empowerment by equipping women to produce sanitary wear locally.
Friday’s donation brought smiles to the beneficiaries, with teachers at Nechishala Secondary welcoming the initiative as a major boost to efforts to keep the girl child in school in a district plagued by dropouts.
