Independent Media, in partnership with Dis-Chem and the Dis-Chem Foundation recently announced the launch of the One Million Comforts campaign aimed at keeping girls in school by ensuring that there are no interruptions to their education owing to monthly menstruation.
The project, in association with the Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4Girls project, aims to amass over one million sanitary towels between September 14 and mid-October. It is calling on the public and readers of Independent Media titles to assist in collecting the products.
According to the Foundation’s research, it is estimated that girls between the ages of 12 and 18 in disadvantaged areas can miss up to a quarter of their schooling when menstruating because they do not have access to adequate sanitary protection, or are unable to afford them. The distribution of sanitary towels in areas affected can have a practical impact on school attendance.
Dis-Chem has installed branded drop-bins in their 88 stores countrywide for customers to donate sanitary towels during the four-week period of the campaign. Three major sanitary towel suppliers, Always, Lil-lets and Stayfree have committed to donating a large quantity of pads to reach the target of one million.
“We are delighted to be in partnership with Independent Media and Caring4Girls. This initiative is critical to ensure young girls stay in school. This, in turn, will assist them with their potential, self-value and opportunities to thrive while ensuring sustainable feminine hygiene,” said Lynette Saltzman, Founder of the Dis-Chem Foundation, which is committed to sustainable methods of improving the lives of South Africans.
Independent Media titles will be running the campaign across the country. As a media group, Independent Media is committed to the continuing education of South African school children.
“Through our publications we reach in excess of five million people on a daily basis and millions more on our online platforms. We believe that our partnership with this project will help many young women realize their full potential with the knowledge that they can now attend school regularly”, said Lutfia Vayej, Independent Media’s group executive for marketing and communication.
The drive is part of the Imbumba Foundation’s Vision 2020 which aims to develop a generation of young leaders who inspire their communities and peers to greater efforts to improve opportunities in rural areas. Richard Mabaso, head of the Imbumba Foundation said the main objective of the programme was to educate and assist.
“We provide puberty and menstrual hygiene training to underprivileged girls, support them with sanitary towels for a minimum period of one year and give each girl a menstrual hygiene booklet.”
You can follow the collection progress on Dis-Chem’s social media sites and find more information in stores or in their “Healthy Living” catalogue which will be published in the next few weeks. You can also follow the progress barometer in Independent Media’s titles.
Readers are urged to drop their donations at any Dis-Chem store countrywide from Monday 14th September and help meet the target of a million pads in the inaugural Million Comforts drive.
Issued by Independent Media (Pty) Ltd
For more information, please contact:
Lutfia Vayej
Group Executive: Marketing and Communication
Tel: 021-4884007
Email: lutfia.vayej@inl.co.za