A total of 63 Grade 7 learners from Bongolethu Primary School, in Philippi, went home smiling on Friday 11 March, after receiving free sanitary towels from Golden Cloud Organisation (GCO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The organisation, which describes itself as \u201cangels\u201d that are there to \u201cuplift and change morals\u201d of communities they operate in, deals with issues affecting the youth, elders and gender based violence (GBV) matters said it was important to get involved and assist possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GCO director Patricia Zimema told City Vision <\/span>children came from different socio-economic backgrounds and found it essential to help where possible. She said they did not only donate the towels, but also shared valuable lessons with learners about cleanliness and how to carry themselves when on periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe all know that children come from different backgrounds, where some cannot afford sanitary towels. So, this is important to us because it keeps them at school and also ensures that they are not laughed at by their peers,\u201d she said. \u201cWe also taught these children to protect one another and not laugh at others if they are on periods. They are children and need to know, there\u2019s nothing wrong to be on periods\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zimema said learners were excited to listen to such a conversation and were able to freely to engage, something they did not get from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She blamed parents for being too \u201cstrict\u201d instead of telling their daughters the \u201ctruth\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs parents we should be open and be able to talk to our children about pregnancies because children learn about these things on the street anyway,\u201d she urged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Siphokazi Tandamisa, Life Orientation teacher, said they appreciated the programme. She said it came at the right time for her learners as they were mostly on puberty stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChildren at this stage are seeing changes on their bodies and don\u2019t quite understand what is happening. So the programme came at a right time for them. I will say this programme empowered and uplifted the children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tandamisa said parents avoided topics such as periods, sex \u2013 but on the day learners felt \u201cfree\u201d and not \u201cashamed\u201d as they would have been while speaking to their parents about such topics. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A total of 63 Grade 7 learners from Bongolethu Primary School, in Philippi, went home smiling on Friday 11 March, after receiving free sanitary towels from Golden Cloud Organisation 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