Caring for a girl child involves meeting both her physical needs and her emotional development, according to Gugulethu-based community activist Wonke Mapeyi (35).

Mapeyi is a co-founder of Elevator Ground, an organisation established in 2017 in response to challenges facing young girls, particularly around menstruation. He said the initiative began by providing sanitary towels to schoolgirls.

From sanitary towel donations to community development

He explained that the broader aim is to build confidence among young girls and encourage them to value character over appearance. Over time, the organisation has expanded its work to include programmes aimed at addressing various social ills affecting communities.

“We conduct programmes like parenting skills, where we provide training for both young and older parents from different generations so they can become better parents. We also have skills development programmes where we educate people on how to start businesses to uplift themselves. We do this to try and combat unemployment, because many young people, including graduates, are unemployed,” said Mapeyi.

Tackling gender-based violence and substance abuse

He added that due to the prevalence of social challenges such as gender-based violence, substance, and child abuse, the organisation also runs targeted empowerment programmes to address these issues.

Mapeyi said they also run initiatives for elderly people as a way of showing appreciation for their contribution to society.

“During Women’s Month, we select a special day where we provide blankets and food parcels to needy mothers in and around Gugulethu. In December, we host what we call an Elderly Christmas Lunch to appreciate and thank elderly people who might not otherwise have a good Christmas like everyone else,” he explained.

He added that the organisation works across the province, including the Eastern Cape.

“We work in different communities. In Khayelitsha, we gather at Thusong Centre or Mew Way Hall; in Gugulethu, we use the Sports Complex or Kwezi Community Hall; in Nyanga we use Zolani Centre; and in Langa, we use Leap Science School or Langa High School.

“Our organisation is not only focused in Gugulethu. We have worked as far as Beaufort West and have even donated sanitary pads in communities in Molteno in the Eastern Cape,” he said.

Funding challenges limit growth and expansion

He noted that one of their major challenges is securing sustainable funding.

“We have many programmes we would like to run, but we are limited by a lack of funds. Our vision is to expand into more provinces, because the challenges faced in Cape Town’s townships are similar to those in other townships,” he said.

He added that the organisation currently has five members.

“It’s me, my partner, and three volunteers. We need more people to join us to make the work easier,” he said.