Project Dignity extends its footprint
Project Dignity extends its footprint with recent donations across the border
More than 200 schoolgirls in both Namibia and Botswana will now benefit from the use of Subz Pants and Pads, reusable sanitary wear that will last them between three and five years. Members from Project Dignity – the non-profit extension of Subz Pants and Pads – visited a number of schools and community organisations between 20 September and 7 October, distributing the packs and engaging with the young women.
“The entire trip was so enlightening and it has been such a privilege meeting the dynamic community leaders and teachers in our neighbour countries,” said Sue Barnes, founder of Subz Pants and Pads, and Project Dignity. “While Project Dignity works to meet its database of young women requiring Subz donations, we are committed to reaching out to the rest of Africa. We need to support each other, and one of our most fundamental goals is ensuring young woman are able to attend class with dignity. No one’s education should be negatively impacted because of a lack of access to sanitary wear.”
The Subz Pants and Pads packs consist of a set of reusable sanitary pads and accompanying panties. These items can be washed and reused, making them both economically and environmentally advantageous. The Project Dignity teams visits schools across the country and beyond, distributing the packs and educating young women on menstrual hygiene puberty. Since its inception in 2010, Project Dignity has donated in the region of 140 000 packs nationwide, with the list of schools and organisations requiring assistance constantly growing.
This is Project Dignity’s third trip across the border. In 2017, the team donated packs of Subz Pants and Pads to schoolgirls in Mozambique, returning the following year and extending the tour to Botswana as well. Commenting on the outreach initiative, Barnes said: “The need for sanitary wear is universal, and we want to uplift as many women as possible. We have numerous requests from across the borders to distribute pads, and because it is so expensive logistically, we chose to do this as an outreach project.”
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