Lifeline Vaal Triangle pilots a new programme!

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A washable sanitary towel that is re-usable and doesn’t need discarding!

LifeLine Vaal Triangle has just completed a “pilot” project called Project Dignity which was funded by Vaalridge Auto in Vereeniging.

There are 9 000 000 girls in South Africa between the ages of 13 and 18. This is the school going age of menstruating girls. Education is hindered by 25%, as these girls do not go to school whilst they are menstruating. That is one week every month. That is a massive set back in their high school careers. The reason for this is that they do not have sanitary wear. If there is money in the family it first goes to food. The sanitation in the schools is mostly dismal, if not of a very low standard, which makes it extremely difficult for girls to discard used sanitary pads.

The approximate number of sanitary pads used is 240 per annum per menstruating woman.

As there are approximately 9 000 000 women between the ages 13 – 19 in South Africa, there is a total of 2 160 000 000 discarded sanitary wear items for that age group alone each year.

Ladies sanitary wear is not biodegradable, thus the sheer volume of discarded used sanitary wear causes a large land fill problem of its own.

This project is aimed at improving the situation of young girls who experience a number of negative issues as a result of not having the means to purchase sanitary towels.

Our Service Centre in Sebokeng, Mamello, identified three schools during 2013 and they are:

Boiketlong Primary in Boiketlong

Zitha primary in Small Farms

Moshate Secondary in Zone 17, Sebokeng

Part of this programme included Lay Counsellors providing various talks to all the pupils at the school, which included:

• Respect for themselves and others
• How to take care of themselves and others
• Changes in their bodies with the onset of puberty
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• HIV/Aids 

In total 182 young ladies were provided with re-usable sanitary pads and provided additional information about female hygiene and how to use these items.

At Zitha Primary our volunteers had the opportunity to engage with the parents at a parents meeting. They briefed the parents and showed them the re-usable/washable sanitary pads. The parents were very impressed and happy that their children were able to be the first to receive pads on this project. Educators from these three schools are very impressed with the programme and are hoping that this will not be the end of this type of initiative.

If anyone is interested in becoming involved in this project we would value their interest and of course would love to hear from them.

Call Colleen Rogers at LifeLine on 016 428 1740 during office hours.