For its community service drive in the first term, the learner council of Rhenish Girls’ High focused on a Backpack Project.
Run throughout the term, in collaboration with the Kwikspar@PaulRoos, the project provided essential items such as sanitary pads, deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, to homeless women in Stellenbosch, through shelters and other organisations serving people in need.
On Friday 13 April, the learners were able to hand the “backpacks” over to representatives from these organisations.
“The Backpack Project was inspired by the learner council motto ‘Empowered women empower women’,” says council member Yvonne Makwara.
“We wanted to collect personal hygiene products such as sanitary pads, towels, lotions, hand sanitisers, toothpastes and toothbrushes, and package them in backpacks and donate them to shelters in and around Stellenbosch catering for homeless women and children.”
Each grade at Rhenish was allocated a product and over two months the products were collected.
“Our goal was 80 bags,” said Makwara. “As usual, Rhenish far exceeded our expectations and we ultimately collected 100 bags.
“These were donated to the Stellenbosch Hospice, Stellenbosch Night Shelter, Stellenbosch Safe House, Stellumthombo and the Kayamandi Trauma Centre for Women and Children.”
Rhenish was supported in this drive by the Kwikspar@PaulRoos who, for the month of February, donated a percentage of its sales of Steri Stumpies to the project and thus raised R5 000.
