{"id":47475,"date":"2022-03-17T12:27:19","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T10:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T11:19:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T09:19:14","slug":"we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cWe want our girls back in school. There are too many girls who miss a week of school each month owing to not having access to sanitary products or safe toilets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the goal of the Red Belt Movement, a young and dynamic social impact charity, assisting women from a young age to manage their menstruation with pride and dignity. The girl learners from Rocklands Farm School on the outskirts of Kariega, will be the first in the area to benefit from this charity\u2019s Dignity Drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is all about dignity. We will be providing sanitary products monthly to those girls in need and helping to keep them in school,\u201d said Bianca Killian, co-founder of the Red Belt Movement, a registered non-profit organisation since 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is also our mission to provide safe, clean and gender specific toilets to schools for girls and boys with the assistance and sponsorships of local industries and businesses. We further educate girls as well as boys and school staff on menstruation and safe hygiene practices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe reached out to a few ward councillors to find out which schools needed support in terms of sanitary pads and toilet facility upgrades. We also engaged with the Department of Education and checked that the Rocklands Farm School is part of the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) initiative, to replace basic pit toilets with appropriate sanitation in accordance with the norms and standards for school infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have met the school\u2019s principal and secretary, did a site visit and interviews with some of the girl learners and realized how big the need is for period packs,\u201d said Killian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"girl

<\/p>\n

There are too many girls who miss a week of school each month owing to not having access to sanitary products or safe toilets. The Red Belt Movement wants to change this by assisting women from a young age to manage their menstruation with pride and dignity. <\/div>\n
<\/span>Photo: Red Belt Movement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Red Belt Movement has also partnered with Blossom Care Solutions, a sanitary pad manufacturer that sets up small factories in communities and whose mission it is to provide every girl in South Africa with access to sanitary dignity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey were kind enough to supply us with a year\u2019s worth of sanitary pads for Rocklands Farm School as well as for Missionvale Care Centre and a school in Makhanda. Our focus will however be on schools in the Kariega area,\u201d said Killian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicole Mohamed, project manager of The Red Belt Movement, said collections for the Dignity Drive period packs, which include various sanitary items, started at the beginning of March and will run until 21 May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is in preparation to hand over the period packs to the Rocklands Farm School on 28 May, which is World Menstrual Hygiene Day,\u201d said Mohamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe would love to get the community involved by donating specific items which can be dropped off at various collection points in Kariega and Despatch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The specific items needed are:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • wet wipes <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • refillable liquid hand soap (and refills)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • laundry soap bars<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • ziplock bags<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • panties (sized 13-14 years-XXL)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWe currently have a few educational institutions in Kariega and Despatch involved which also serve as collection points namely Riebeek College, Brandwag, Kooweekidz Educare, Mini Miracles Educare and Despatch Preparatory School,\u201d said Mohamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There will also be a collection bin available at the UD Express office in Graaff Reinet Road to drop off donations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • For more information contact Nicole Mohamed at 072 688 4975 or Bianca Kilian 066 383 0195.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n
      \"child

      <\/p>\n

      Bianca Killian, co-founder of the Red Belt Movement at Brandwag High School, who also supports the programme. <\/div>\n
      <\/span>Photo: Supplied<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        \u201cWe want our girls back in school. There are too many girls who miss a week of school each month owing to not having access to sanitary products or safe toilets.\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":47481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_eb_attr":"","_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"608f8835-9f48-4e66-b8fb-1d6dc2f045bf","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"Heilie Combrinck","background_color":"","block_editor":"","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-47475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019 | UD Express (Uitenhage)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cWe want our girls back in school. There are too many girls who miss a week of school each month owing to not having access to sanitary products or safe toilets.\u201d.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UD Express (Uitenhage)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-03-17T10:27:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-21T09:19:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"811\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Heilie Combrinck\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@EP_Media24\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@EP_Media24\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"UD Express\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"UD Express\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e204c6259f59eee600a8578c6fc1f4d6\"},\"headline\":\"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-03-17T10:27:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-21T09:19:14+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":601,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2022\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/\",\"name\":\"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019 | UD Express (Uitenhage)\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-03-17T10:27:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-21T09:19:14+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg\",\"width\":811,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"Seen here are (from left) Nicole Mohamed, Project Manager of the Red Belt Movement with Bianca Killian, co-founder of the Red Belt Movement at Riebeek College. Photo: Supplied\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"UD Express\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UD Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/uitenhage-despatch-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/uitenhage-despatch-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"UD Express\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/PEExpress1\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/EP_Media24\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/express_newspapers\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@expressonline3000\\\/videos\"],\"description\":\"UD Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of the Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) and Despatch communities since 1971, making it the oldest single-title free sheet in South Africa. Established with the goal of keeping our community informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 30,000 free copies delivered mostly door to door across Kariega, Despatch, and surrounding areas every week.\",\"email\":\"udexpress@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"0+2719925650\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e204c6259f59eee600a8578c6fc1f4d6\",\"name\":\"UD Express\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4337d3a25ac3ba8455c9939374a81adbc30eb5033a750ee59190cfb8f29e6d5d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4337d3a25ac3ba8455c9939374a81adbc30eb5033a750ee59190cfb8f29e6d5d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/4337d3a25ac3ba8455c9939374a81adbc30eb5033a750ee59190cfb8f29e6d5d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"UD Express\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/udexpress\\\/author\\\/udexpress\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019 | UD Express (Uitenhage)","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019","og_description":"\u201cWe want our girls back in school. There are too many girls who miss a week of school each month owing to not having access to sanitary products or safe toilets.\u201d.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/","og_site_name":"UD Express (Uitenhage)","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","article_published_time":"2022-03-17T10:27:19+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-21T09:19:14+00:00","og_image":[{"width":811,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Heilie Combrinck","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@EP_Media24","twitter_site":"@EP_Media24","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"UD Express","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/"},"author":{"name":"UD Express","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/e204c6259f59eee600a8578c6fc1f4d6"},"headline":"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019","datePublished":"2022-03-17T10:27:19+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-21T09:19:14+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/"},"wordCount":601,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2022","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/","name":"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019 | UD Express (Uitenhage)","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg","datePublished":"2022-03-17T10:27:19+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-21T09:19:14+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg","width":811,"height":1080,"caption":"Seen here are (from left) Nicole Mohamed, Project Manager of the Red Belt Movement with Bianca Killian, co-founder of the Red Belt Movement at Riebeek College. Photo: Supplied"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/we-want-our-girls-back-in-school-20220316\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"\u2018We want our girls back in school\u2019"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/","name":"UD Express","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#organization","name":"UD Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/uitenhage-despatch-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/uitenhage-despatch-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"UD Express"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","https:\/\/x.com\/EP_Media24","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/express_newspapers\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@expressonline3000\/videos"],"description":"UD Express has been the eyes, ears, and voice of the Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) and Despatch communities since 1971, making it the oldest single-title free sheet in South Africa. Established with the goal of keeping our community informed, we have grown into one of the most trusted local news sources in the region, with 30,000 free copies delivered mostly door to door across Kariega, Despatch, and surrounding areas every week.","email":"udexpress@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"0+2719925650","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/e204c6259f59eee600a8578c6fc1f4d6","name":"UD Express","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4337d3a25ac3ba8455c9939374a81adbc30eb5033a750ee59190cfb8f29e6d5d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4337d3a25ac3ba8455c9939374a81adbc30eb5033a750ee59190cfb8f29e6d5d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4337d3a25ac3ba8455c9939374a81adbc30eb5033a750ee59190cfb8f29e6d5d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"UD Express"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/author\/udexpress\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/286a7eb755084c8abf9e74146246fc2d.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":47440,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/despatch-preparatory-supports-red-belt-movement-20220323\/","url_meta":{"origin":47475,"position":0},"title":"Despatch Preparatory supports Red Belt Movement","author":"UD Express","date":"24 March 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Despatch Preparatory has driven a young girl\u2019s sanitary product campaign over the last two months. This was done in support of the Red Belt Movement, that is compiling \u201cBags for life\u201d for 600 young ladies.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2dffb7e3e0854b4e888e8b433c70b667.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2dffb7e3e0854b4e888e8b433c70b667.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2dffb7e3e0854b4e888e8b433c70b667.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48972,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/revolutionary-hygiene-products-to-girls-20210421-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":47475,"position":1},"title":"Revolutionary hygiene products to girls","author":"UD Express","date":"22 April 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Despatch Preparatory School recently issued their senior class girls with female hygiene products which were revolutionary in thinking and design.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53578,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/girls-summit-held-in-kwano-20181107-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":47475,"position":2},"title":"Girls\u2019 summit held in KwaNo","author":"UD Express","date":"8 November 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"GIRLS between the ages of 12 and 20 years are invited to a Restore A Girl\u2019s Dignity summit which will be hosted at KwaNobuhle.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":266580,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/self-love-self-care-campaign-seeking-donations\/","url_meta":{"origin":47475,"position":3},"title":"Self-love\/self-care campaign seeking donations","author":"UD Express","date":"28 August 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Pay It Forward Community Foundation will host a Self-Love\/Self-Care campaign from September 1-5, 2025, educating over 1,000 girls on self-respect and hygiene.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Vasti Burger.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Picture1_44578-e1756385093143.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Picture1_44578-e1756385093143.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Picture1_44578-e1756385093143.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Picture1_44578-e1756385093143.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Picture1_44578-e1756385093143.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":263718,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/local-resident-seeks-help-revamping-youth-care-centre\/","url_meta":{"origin":47475,"position":4},"title":"Local resident seeks help revamping Youth Care Centre","author":"Shanti Jafta","date":"13 June 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Kyla Cronje initiates the Dignity Rising Project to renovate Salem House at Oosterland CYCC, aiming to improve young girls' living conditions through community support and donations.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo of kids for illustration purposes.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/generate-a-photo-of-children-at-oosterland-cycc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/generate-a-photo-of-children-at-oosterland-cycc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/generate-a-photo-of-children-at-oosterland-cycc.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/generate-a-photo-of-children-at-oosterland-cycc.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44104,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/models-gear-up-for-miss-hope-international-20241002\/","url_meta":{"origin":47475,"position":5},"title":"Models gear up for Miss Hope International","author":"UD Express","date":"3 October 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The CEO of Hope Pageants International, Ingrid Burger, has launched the first Christian-based pageant system for teens and women who are passionate about making a significant difference in their communities.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2ee23880232a4cae819634ca8b154397.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"UD Express (Uitenhage)","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47475\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47475"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=47475"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=47475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}