Shouts of joy and elation filled the Lumko High School hall in East London as scores of young girls received a handsome donation of sanitary towels last Wednesday.
This after the annual Trek4Mandela to took place in August in a bid to raise these much-needed essentials, together with Caring4Girls menstrual hygiene programme run by Imbumba Foundation.
East London local, Lee-Ann King climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with Prof Thuli Madonsela among a host of other South Africans for the same cause (“Conquering the mountain, GO! & Express, August 22 2019).
School representative Nozipho Ndava said they did not know it would turn out to be such a massive event.
“I do not have the words to express myself. We are humble to have been chosen as beneficiaries and so happy for what you have done for all our girl children,” Ndava said.
The Imbumba Foundation was established by social entrepreneuer, Richard Mabaso who then went on to create Caring4Girls.
Imbumba Foundation representative, Nthabiseng Sekhobela said the idea came to life after Mabaso spoke to a young female family member.
“It grew into a bigger vision to include those struggling to access sanitary towels. We work out how we can raise funds and partner with companies, friends and family,” Sekhobela said.
She said they hoped to raise a year’s supply each year with more support.
King said she was glad to have been part of the journey and they had worked hard to make it a reality.
“When we did our Mandela Day beach walk at Nahoon, we had such good support and to be able to follow it through and actually see the outcome of it, will hopefully help us generate more support. I am delighted that together we will be able to lessen the burden on these young girls on a monthly basis by providing them with access to these basic requirements.”
Present at the handover were Clarendon High School pupils , Alexia Brown and Sarah King (Lee-Ann’s daughter), who collected almost 300 sanitary towel packs through the school’s’ interact club.
King’s fundraising efforts raised more than over R30,000, as well as more than 9,000 sanitary pads which will provide a four-month supply to the combined 710 girls in Lumko High and Gasela High Schools near King Willliam’s Town.
