SMS to provide sanitary protection for schoolgirls

Thousands of girls miss up to 50 days of school a year due to a lack of sanitary protection.

This is why Nelson Mandela Square (NMS) has joined forces with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and its Trek4Mandela project to raise money to provide 400 schoolgirls at the Iphutheng Primary School in Alexandra with sanitary protection, an initiative which they call #oneactofkindness.

“At Nelson Mandela Square we believe that this is an unjust situation and that no South African girl child should miss a day of school because she cannot afford to buy sanitary protection,” said Nelson Mandela Square’s centre manager, Annamarie De Carvalho.

In order to pledge support to the cause, members of the community can SMS GIRLCHILDNMS and their name to 42513. SMSes cost R30 and all proceeds will go towards buying sanitation towels for the girls at the primary school. Supporters may also drop off sanitary towels in the bin at Auto & General Theatre on the Square between 28 July and 31 August.

Richard Mabaso, founder and CEO of the Imbumba Foundation and driving force behind Trek4Mandela, said, “A huge part of our campaign is about creating awareness of the enormous need that exists. Having a high profile brand such as Nelson Mandela Square as a partner goes a long way in creating that awareness and increasing our ability to make a real difference to the lives of young girls in South Africa.”

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