Friends with Compassion (FWC) and Ambassador for Good launched the LadyUp project at Riebeek-West Primary on Tuesday morning (30 August), when the school was provided with a sanitary-pad vending machine courtesy of the Anglo American Foundation.
Founding director of FWC Keith Davids said this year the group took a slightly different approach by installing fully stocked vending machines that will supply the girls for 12 months.
Many girls from poorer communities miss out on schooling during their menstrual periods because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Moves are afoot from several quarters to address this problem for schoolgirls.
“Additionally,” said Davids, “we want to create awareness of initiatives available to support young women and gather the support of the community and local businesses to ensure support for the future and a larger scale.
“We have installed sanitary towel vending machines at four schools across the Western Cape. This exciting project is funded by the Anglo-American Ambassador for Good initiative, supported by the Anglo-American Foundation.”
According to Davids, the total cost for the sanitary vending machine was R38 000 all-inclusive. This means it is stocked for 12 months, 50 packs per month.
“It’s a locally manufactured vending machine that dispenses a pack of six sanitary towels. The machine works with a specially designed token and does not operate with electricity.”
Director of the Menstruation Foundation Marius Basson said he and Siv Ngesi started the NPC and designed the Sanitary Vending Machine.
The budget to build the four vending machines ranged from R38 000 to R88 000 depending on how many sanitary pads is loaded for free each month.
“This vending machine has 51 sanitary pads,” said Basson. “The schoolgirls sign out their token on the first of each month, and when their period starts they just go to the machine, put the token in and get their free pack of high-quality pads. The girls of our country should take pride in themselves and remain at school.”
