Despatch Preparatory School recently issued their senior class girls with female hygiene products which were revolutionary in thinking and design.
These reusable female hygiene products, that not only assist many young women to deal with the costs of feminine products, but also helps in the fight to save the planet from pollution, was designed by Despatch fashion designer, Lwazi Mema of Roody’s Designs.
It is a little-known fact that on average a woman will use some 65 000 sanitary pads in her lifetime and Mema’s innovation can quarter that number.
“If one thinks of the permanent damage caused by plastic pollution to our planet, it is shocking. These sanitary pads made from special materials can be washed and used up to four times as much as a normal sanitary pad,” said Mema.
According to Madelene Sachse, principal of Despatch Preparatory, “Sustainability has become a buzz word these days, but we have to look at ideas that will benefit our planet and assist the environment in the long term. It’s time we took responsibility for our own deeds.”
The learners were given a child friendly talk on puberty, iterating the strengths and “superpowers”, a woman has as it has been found that more and more younger learners are going into puberty at an earlier age than was previously expected. All learners attended with their parents’ permission and have been given support channels should they need them as well.
Asja Strydom, HOD at Despatch Preparatory said, “We are constantly looking for ways to make our learners aware of their carbon footprint, and how they can minimize it. This is one small step in the right direction.”
Student teacher Philangezwe Mrelane from NMMU has been with the school since January 2021 and is throwing herself into each and every opportunity that comes her way. She played a vital role during the talks translating many concerns into isiXhosa for the learners. – REPORTER
