THE PLIGHT OF YOUNG GIRLS

Rustenburg – About 250 girls from five different schools in the jurisdiction of the Bafokeng villages received much-needed sanitary towels at an event held at the Kutlwanong School for the Deaf near Phokeng on Tuesday, 20 March.

The towels, valued at R120 000 were donated to learners from Matale, Thethe, Molotlegi, Charora and Kutlwanong secondary schools by Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) in a partnership that include Thuto-Thebe Foundation and Caring for Girls organisation.

Speaking to Platinum Weekly newspaper, Tirelo Molotlegi, Her Royal Highness, Princess, said the initiative was to enable girls to go to school irrespective of their monthly cycles. She lamented the reality that there are girls around the world who are unable to go to school because they lack sanitary towels. “As a woman I am very passionate and proud that our girls would have the right to education and that they are now able to reach their dreams,” she said. 

In a press statement, ACCBSA expressed its commitment to ensuring that youth receive education, as such when faced with the plight of young girls being unable to attend classes due to lack of sanitary towels. 

Hlako Rachidi (CCBSA district manager) noted that it is a tragedy that most young girls miss school as they do not have adequate menstrual care which is, undoubtedly, a human right and it’s time for our corporates and communities to work together to address that fact.

The Caring for Girls foundation is the brainchild of Richard Mabaso who, in 2011 started the cause to provide girls from underprivileged communities with much needed sanitary towels.