A project driven by a group of young people from the Ida’s Valley community aims to bring a temporary end to period poverty, with the ultimate goal of bringing a permanent end to this scourge many local girls and women have to face monthly.
Throughout Women’s Month (August), volunteers of the Creating Leaders Among Youth (Clay) Foundation were hard at work gathering and collecting sanitary towels donated by community members and businesses as part of the foundation’s sanitary drive.
As the drive drew to a close, the sanitaryware was delivered to three local schools – Ida’s Valley Primary, Lückhoff High and St Ida’s RC Primary schools – while the handover to Bruckner De Villiers Primary must still be done.
The project is the brainchild of Ida’s Valley residents Whitney Samson and Eon Hendrikse, who both commissioned the support of other foundation volunteers and the broader community in the hopes of bringing an end to period poverty in local schools.
The Clay Foundation was founded by community activist Hendrikse during hard lockdown in April 2020, with the vision of empowering children and communities to make democracy work for them (“Foundation ray of hope for youth”, Eikestadnuus, 1 October 2020). Clay has three pillars for which it stands: nutrition, education and sport.
What initially started as drive to feed those most affected by poverty and hunger in the Ida’s Valley and Cloetesville communities, has developed into an organisation focused on the betterment of these communities and the upliftment of residents through a range of projects run solely by local youths, with the welcome support of other community members.
According to Hendrikse, the organisation’s work is aimed at developing strategic programmes that address the social issues in communities. “Period poverty is a real problem; many girls in our schools have to face this problem every month. Not only are they missing out on important school days, they are also developing low esteem,” he pointed out.
“The Women’s Month sanitary drive aimed to create awareness around this real issue throughout the month, while also calling on government to step up and make the call to provide these products to girls at no cost.”
The 23-year-old Samson, who coordinated the project, said more than 500 packets of sanitary towels were collected throughout the month, with each beneficiary school receiving more than 70 packets. “I would say that this project was successful,” Samson said.
“We will definitely run this project in the near future again, as it is our way of giving back to the community as we want to bring about change to the crippling issue of period poverty. We want girls to feel comfortable at school when they are on their period.”
Clay volunteers played a crucial role in the success of the project, Samson related, but added that the support of the community through generous donations was the ultimate tipping point that led to the success. Donations were also received from Gift of the Givers and Hungry Lion, the head office of which is located in Stellenbosch.
“With a project like this, the support of the community truly means a lot, as we are ultimately doing it for the benefit of our community,” she said.
“Their support gives us the strength and courage to help end period poverty. With their support, we are able to help many women and girls, bring smiles to their faces and bring happiness to their hearts. We’d like to thank every person who donated a packet of sanitary pads and funds to buy the sanitary towels. Without their support, this would not have been possible.”
Hendrikse said the Clay Foundation aims to increase the project’s frequency, as the issue of period poverty doesn’t only occur during Women’s Month. “This initiative is driven by the women of the Clay Foundation, as this gives them the belief that they have it in them to take care of others,” he said.
Apart from the Women’s Month sanitary drive, the foundation’s members and volunteers continue to fill hungry tummies through its various feeding schemes, while it also holds a stationery drive at the start of each academic year. In the lead-up to the festive season, the foundation is also launching its Santa Shoebox project, which will aim to bring festive cheer and smiles to children in the communities it serves.
. For more information on how to get involved in projects, send an email to foundationclay2020@gmail.com.
