From left Sushie Munsamy (CSI Assistant for Daily News Milk Fund), Lihle Mthethwa (Trek4Mandela Manager), Philani Mazibuko (Daily News Editor), and Sameera Kareem (CSI Manager & Project Coordinator Daily News Milk Fund) celebrate with learners from Phembisizwe High School during a Women’s Month sanitary pad donation drive.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo (ANA Studios)
IN COMMEMORATION of Women’s Month, the Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4girls programme and the Daily News Milk Fund partnered to support Phembisizwe High School in Ntuzuma.
The joint outreach provided 453 pupils with a three month supply of sanitary pads, a puberty education session and stationery sponsored by Freedom Stationery, as the school’s matric pupils prepare for the upcoming preliminary examinations.
Period poverty remains a major challenge in South Africa, where severe socio-economic hardships place immense financial strain on families.
Sushie Munsamy (far left), (CSI Assistant for Daily News Milk Fund), and Sameera Kareem (far right), (CSI Manager and Project Coordinator for Daily News Milk Fund), hand over stationery supplies sponsored by Freedom Stationery to students of Phembisizwe High School.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo (ANA Studios)
A lack of access to menstrual products and suitable facilities can affect school attendance during menstruation.This can reduce classroom participation and affect learning, while the stigma surrounding menstruation damages their confidence and self-esteem.
The Caring4girls programme combines product distribution with puberty and menstrual health education.
Reflecting on the milestone outreach, Trek4mandela Manager at the Imbumba Foundation Lihle Mthethwa said: “We sincerely thank Daily News Milk Fund for partnering with us to make an impact.
“Caring4girls focuses on keeping girls in school by providing sanitary towels and puberty education. We don’t just hand out pads. We equip these girls with knowledge on puberty, personal hygiene, and growing up as young women. To date, this programme has helped us restore dignity and keep thousands of girls in classrooms across South Africa."
Phembisizwe High School - Pure joy as learners celebrate Women’s Month after receiving essential sanitary products.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo (ANA Studios)
Highlighting the shared vision behind the drive, Sameera Kareem, CSI manager and project co-ordinator at the DailyNews Milk Fund, expressed her gratitude for the ongoing partnership with the Imbumba Foundation.
Kareem said the Daily News Milk Fund was rooted in uplifting the health and well-being of vulnerable children, making this collaboration a natural union.
She also expressed her gratitude to Freedom Stationery for contributing a whole range of stationery to aid matric pupils ahead of the trial exams.
A massive thank you to our incredible partners—Imbumba Foundation, Caring4Girls, and Freedom Stationery for joining hands with us this Women's Month. Your dedicated support helps endow young women with resilient confidence and the essential tools they need to thrive
Image: SUPPLIED
Phembisizwe High School events co-ordinator Wendy Msane thanked the partners on behalf of the school.
“On behalf of Phembisizwe High School, I would like to extend a word of gratitude to the Daily News Milk Fund for not only choosing our school to visit, but for bringing us stationery and sanitary materials for our pupils.
"You may not understand how deep your donation goes, as we are serving a community with a high rate of unemployment and child-headed homes.
"By standing alongside these young women and caring for their basic needs, the partnership sends a clear message this Women’s Month: The partners said the support would help learners remain focused on their education."
