07/12/2020
If you are a teenager, a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, an uncle etc and a citizen at the community of Belfast, Siyathuthuka, then this post is directed to you.
I know it's a long post but please read and read it carefully.!!!!!!
After watching on channel 157 a few weeks ago. They were discussing a very saddening topic which i believe does have an impact in the community of Siyathuthuka. It was raised that many, many community members, especially young girls from previously disadvantaged backgrounds are in need of sanitary towels, most do not afford buying them. Which in most cases leads to them using old cloths, tissues etc in a form of sanitary towels during their days. Which is not good for their health hence it causes infections and many more health complications. Not just teenagers but adults too. A few months ago i got a text on Facebook, from a young girl who is from our community. She requested if i could help her with money to buy sanitary pads. Come to think of this whole situation, I realized that there are many more of our sisters who are suffering in silence.
It touched my heart deeply. For a whole 2 weeks I've trying to come up with a solution that could possibly help all our sisters, mothers, aunts who are facing the very similar problem. It's reality. Siyathuthuka still has a lot of previously disadvantaged homes.
My solution was to start a program called Uthando Padded Drive. This initiative will be registered as an NPO provided that is becomes a success. The initiative will aim at collecting sanitary towels(pads, tampons, pantyliners, wipes etc) from anyone who would like to donate. We will also have a 1 hour event, which will be aimed at raising funds for the initiative in order to buy as many sanitary pads as we can. The event will be a fitness event where any member of the community will be welcomed to join, we will do a few exercises for an hour with the help of fitness trainers around Siyathuthuka. An amount of R20 will give you access to the event or a packet of sanitary pads, tampons etc. But a post will be made for more information about the event.
We call upon all business owners, supermarkets, spaza shops, members of the community to donate to the initiative, It can be anything, sanitary pads, tampons, monetary value etc. Because we aim at collecting as many sanitary towels as we could.
The sanitary pads will then be distributed directly to those in need, schools and other public places where our sisters, mothers, aunts etc can assess them easily.
If you are reading this post and you would like to be part of the initiative, please share the post and spread the word, but most importantly we urge that you may please make it to the event hence it will be the main source of collecting as many sanitary towels as we can.
Our sisters are crying for help, although they might not voice it out hence we took it upon ourself to come up with a solution.
Please like our page for more updates Uthando Padded Drive for more information about the initiative or would you like to donate before the event.
