It is a sad South African fact that if you are a girl and come from a disadvantaged background you could lose up to 25% of your learning opportunities annually.
What makes the situation more tragic is that 7 million girls in South Africa are losing time in school merely because they cannot afford to buy feminine-hygiene products, according to NGO The Borgen Project.
“With the Spar Group a community-based retail network we have the national presence and distribution points to tackle a social issue such as this,” Helen Barrett, the group’s national advertising and promotions manager, said. “In the case of period poverty part of the solution has been manufacturing a range of quality, low-price sanitary products and making them available at subsidised prices through Spar stores nationwide.
“In 2019, when we committed to subsidising the cost of our private label Petals sanitary pads, tampons and pantyliners, shoppers in our stores were encouraged to buy and donate packs. That year more than 130 000 packs were donated and distributed to local charities across SA, Botswana, Namibia and Eswatini.”
At a practical level, while the group is tackling the affordability issue by producing these products at a lower price, women and women’s organisations have joined the drive to bring dignity to girls. This includes Running4Pads, an organisation led by Camillah Adams that works with Spar Petals and takes advantage of the Spar Women’s Challenge to achieve its objective. At the Cape Town leg of the popular event 11 000 women competed and 18 480 packs were donated.
Running4Pads is run by a team of volunteers who have taken their inspiration from the four women runners who initially founded the charity. The organisation receives 190 boxes every six months, each containing eight bales of eight-pack pads. These products find their way into schools where committed teachers, such as Thalia January, a teacher from Bellville who, together with other teachers, purchases Petals for girl learners in their schools, and are part of the distribution chain.
“Importantly, regular donations are made to the Muizenberg Police Station to provide some dignity to rape victims,” Barrett added. “It is women behind organisations like Running4Pads and teachers across the country who volunteer their time, and purchase feminine hygiene products with their own money, who have literally changed the lives of hundreds of girls fortunate enough to cross paths with these special women.
“We will continue selling Petals in store for cost price and keep donating to worthy causes. Regular marketing drives through our independent retailer stores, also see thousands of boxes donated each year, all underlining our commitment to the health and dignity of young female learners, and to help keep them in school.”
Since 2019, Spar has been committed to subsidising the cost of its Spar Petals pad products, capping the price at R6 per pack. Anyone can pledge a pack of Petals at their local Spar store.
