Online Reporter
Nomalisa Gumpo, Online Reporter
Junior Councillors in Bulawayo have taken charge of menstrual health in schools through an initiative aimed at collecting 10,000 sanitary pads every month while promoting menstrual health awareness among girls and young women.
Bulawayo Junior Councillor, Gamuchirai Musara, from Mandwandwe High School, representing 65 young leaders dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities, started the initiative under the theme “Dignity for All.
“The campaign’s goal is to collect 10,000 sanitary pads monthly and raise awareness about menstrual health to support vulnerable girls and young women in the communities.
Speaking to Junior Councillor Musara, she said that after noticing a continuous absence of girls at school, she asked them for the reasons behind it. Many girls complained about not having enough pads to last the whole day.
“When I talked to the girls, they told me their sanitary pads are often not enough and using one pad was uncomfortable at school, as they would get teased for smelling. At home, it was manageable, but at school, they felt embarrassed, so they stayed away,” she said.
She said that after discussions with her fellow Junior Councillors, they agreed to start an initiative not only to source pad donations but also to educate girls about menstrual hygiene.
“Everyone deserves a fair chance in class, and menstruation should not be one of the obstacles that lead to girls failing. It is a necessity that everyone should have access to sanitary wear,” Junior Councillor Musara said.
The initiative is set to start benefitting girls next month across all 65 schools represented by Bulawayo’s Junior Councillors. Through donations from community members and corporates, they hope to sustain the pad drive every month.
Junior Councillor Musara said they would welcome assistance from shop owners willing to install collection boxes in their stores for customers willing to support the initiative.
“Every pad count and every contribution will make a difference. We hope to keep this going and inspire more girls to take pride in menstruation and not feel like outcasts because of nature,” she said.
