adminNozibelo Maphosa, Sunday News Reporter
A HARARE-based Non-Governmental Organisation “Girls R Us” which has been helping rural girls with sanitary wear will be stretching its tentacles to Bulawayo next month.
The founding director of the organisation, Ms Sandra Moyo said the NGO has been distributing sanitary wear, laundry bars and underwear to the underprivileged girls for the past two years.
“From 2014 we have been assisting less privileged girls from rural areas. We source for sanitary pads, soap and underwear,” said Ms Moyo.
She said the organisation has distributed the sanitary wear in Matabeleland from December as a way of giving back to the community.
“Although the organisation is based in Harare, we realised that many of our members are from Matabeleland, hence we want to give back to those communities.”
She said last year they distributed 17 660 pads and 8 000 laundry bars to schools around Harare.
She said her organisation also donated sanitaryware to children’s homes around Bulawayo.
“Last year we distributed to schools in Chihota, Mhondoro, Murehwa, Chegutu, Kuwadzana and Epworth. We also donated to orphans at Revelation Trust and to Harare Children’s Home.
“Our biggest sponsor pulled out last year, and since then, we have been facing challenges on distributing laundry bars and underwear. However, for that reason, these days we are relying on donations from individuals, but we haven’t stopped giving out sanitaryware,” she said.
Ms Moyo said apart from distributing pads the organisation was teaching young girls about menstrual health.
“We have volunteers from our organisation who educate young girls on menstrual health and sexual health. We talk menstrual health and career guidance,” she said.
Ms Moyo said she founded the organisation based on her own personal experience.
“I once bled for more than two months non-stop, I became tired of buying pads and asked myself how girls from the rural areas cope, so I thought of founding this organisation. Besides, I just think pads should be offered for free unlike condoms, because having sex is a choice and being on your period is not a choice, it comes naturally,” she said.
Online Reporter