A MOUNTAINEER, Andiswa Siwela, from Qhakazana locality in Willowvale, is on a mission to help girl learners in the Eastern Cape Province by providing reusable sanitary products. Due to work commitments, she currently resides in Cape Town.
Siwela donated these sanitary products to five schools to promote education and boost the self-esteem of girl learners.
The schools that benefited are Qhakaza Primary School and Fort-Malan Senior Secondary School (both located in Willowvale), Mzamo Senior Secondary School in Lady Frere, Anako Primary School in Dordrecht and Chief Malan Primary School in Thornhill.
“I am a girl who grew up in rural areas. When I was growing up, it was very hard because you might have had money for sanitary towels, but you would not know where to buy them.
“Sometimes they were even scarce in shops. After my father passed away, my aunt took me in, reducing the burden on my mother. When I went to visit her in Willowvale, that’s when I saw the struggles first-hand,” said Siwela.
Besides donating reusable sanitary towels, she also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2021 to raise funds to eradicate pit toilets at Qhakaza Primary School in Willowvale.
“Now, working here in Cape Town, I realised I love mountains so much. Even though I enjoy running, mountains are my first love. I tried running but felt it was not the right fit, so I started climbing mountains.”
She said this initiative has helped her a lot, as it has allowed her to give back to learners.
She chose to focus on the Eastern Cape because many schools there are struggling. Siwela confirmed that this is her first initiative, but she plans to return in January 2025 to donate additional sanitary towels.
“I am appealing to all provinces to support this initiative. These kinds of sanitary towels could even be included when the departments deliver books to schools.
“I also appeal to the Department of Education to partner with me so that we can work together to ensure this dream continues,” she said.
Siwela mentioned that she had climbed Drakensberg Mountain in 2019, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in 2021, Amathole Mountain in East London in 2023, and Fish River Mountain in Namibia in 2024.
Department of Education spokesperson, Mali Mtima, said that the movement to make education a societal responsibility is gaining momentum, and Siwela is part of the team making this a success.
“We welcome support from individuals and businesses to assist those in need. We hope others will follow suit to help less fortunate communities. The journey to achieve ‘people’s education for people’s power’ is possible if citizens and communities partner with the government to bring change,” said Mtima.
He added that the department believes working together allows them to do more for those in need.
