Colletta Dube
Chronicle Reporter
STANBIC Bank Zimbabwe has joined hands with Talia Women’s Network to support 1 500 girls across Zimbabwe with packs of reusable pads and undergarments at a cost of US$15 000.
The intervention is part of the financial services institution’s annual countrywide provision of reusable sanitary pads and undergarments to girls in remote schools.
This year’s programme began over the weekend with a donation of 370 packs to girls at Murembe High School and Chivese Primary school in Bindura, 90 kilometers north-west of Harare.
Stanbic Bank marketing specialist, client segments, Tendai Rafemoyo, said the Standard Bank Group subsidiary takes pride in empowering underserved girls in rural communities by providing sanitary products, enabling them to focus on their education without the risk of missing school due to a lack of sanitary ware.
Rafemoyo said the donation of the pads was part of a carefully thought out Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative, which included putting the interest of the girl child at the fore under the health and education pillars.
She said Stanbic Bank’s CSI initiatives target education, health and sanitation, the environment and sports.
“Stanbic Bank is fully aware that some girls resort to unorthodox and often harmful methods as substitutes for sanitary ware while others end up not even going to school for lack of these pads.
“This longstanding gesture from Stanbic Bank guarantees these girls uninterrupted education for at least two years,” said Rafemoyo.
She hailed the partnership Stanbic Bank has forged with Talia Women’s Network as the initiative not only benefits the girl child through taking delivery of pads but educational hygiene sessions as well.
Talia Women’s Network is a registered non-profit organisation that seeks to create communities where girls and young women lead confident, morally astute, healthy and economically empowered lives.
Talia Women’s Network founder, Saliwe Zakaria said one of the organisation’s key pillars is Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH), through which it works to ensure that no girl misses school simply because of her period.
“This important work is made possible through our valued partnership with Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, which has supported our Menstrual Health and Hygiene pillar since 2019.
“Over the years, the partnership has enabled us to reach thousands of vulnerable girls with essential menstrual hygiene products and education. We’re delighted to continually reaffirm our shared commitment to ending period poverty and ensuring that every girl has an opportunity to learn, grow and pursue her dreams without interruption,” said Zakaria.
She was on hand to offer invaluable hygiene and reproductive health lessons to the girls from both institutions.
Murembe High School deputy head, Amos Zembere expressed gratitude for the two-pronged, life-changing assistance by Stanbic Bank and Talia Women’s Network.
Zembere commended Stanbic Bank for its unwavering commitment towards the welfare of the girl child.
“We say a big thank you to Talia Women’s Network for the invaluable reproductive health and hygiene lessons and to Stanbic Bank for the donation of reusable pads. The lessons were of great benefit even to the teachers while the donation is a confidence booster for the girls as they are now guaranteed to always attend lessons,” said Zembere.
Last year the Stanbic Bank donated sanitary ware and undergarments in two phases with girls from schools in Buhera, Mrewa, Chipinge, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland and Masvingo benefitting from the exercise.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi