This year’s International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) focused on celebrating the amazing things girls are achieving that prove they are unscripted and unstoppable! In keeping up with the goals and objectives of the Isithunzi initiative-restoring her dignity, the Graça Machel Trust (GMT) team in partnership with the AngelRock Project South Africa visited Mxolisi Primary school based in Jabulani township of Soweto to donate sanitary dignity kits to disadvantaged girls in the area.
The principle of the school, Mrs. Ngobese said that this came at the right time as most of the girls are in need of assistance and commended the team for choosing the school as it is usually forgotten by many and she acknowledged that the dignity packs will go a long way for the girls.
Through restoring young girlsâ dignity, the team aimed at raising young girlsâ awareness in sexual reproductive health as well as reproductive rights. The emphasise was that menstrual health management should not STOP girls from participating in their social and economic advancement, specifically when it comes to tackling issues of self-esteem and standing up for their human rights .
The Graça Machel Trust views menstruation as being related to human rights, primarily because, gender inequality and poverty are harmful occurrences that have the potential of turning menstruation into a time of deprivation and stigma. More often than not, young girls in marginalised communities, especially girls who find it hard to access menstruation products face menstruation-related exclusion, neglect or discrimination. It is then very important that we work towards breaking the chain of menstruation related exclusion and break the menstrual taboo.
“We are committed to help remove barriers that vulnerable learners have to a quality education..we know that in order to achieve our goals, we need to break down all of the barriers that hinder the girl child. This includes helping to negate persistent and harmful misconceptions around menstruation that discriminate against women and girls since menstruation is natural and essential, but most often, it leads to exclusion, neglect and discrimination… we hope that we can play a part in ensuring that the beautiful girls who attend Mxolisi Primary School can move forward this academic year knowing that they are fully supported to live their best lives ”
Thabo Maake, Angel Rock Project, South Africa.
Research shows that there is still a substantial need for girls in marginalised communities to access menstrual hygiene products. It is also very concerning that in the absence of menstrual hygiene products, young girls who find it challenging to access menstrual hygiene packs sometimes resort to using toilet paper, newspapers or old rags, exposing themselves to health problems. The negative impact of this on the young girls is that their hygiene and sexual reproductive health is at risk of developing chronic infections that are damaging to the reproductive system. Urinary tract infections or even pelvic inflammatory disease which may later on in life cause infertility are not uncommon when young girls use toilet paper, newspapers or old rags.
Earlier this year, GMT kicked off Isâthunzi initiative-restoring her dignity during International Womenâs Day as a way of contributing to addressing the challenges that girls face when they try to manage their menstruation with dignity, without impacting on their ability to participate in their social an economic advancement. The Is’thunzi Initiative has highlighted and reemphasised the importance of prioritising, coordinating and investing in addressing the menstrual health management for young girls.
Twenty girls we were identified by the school with the support of a social worker that works closely in the community and the girls were supplied with three months supply of supplies that included sanitary pads, tooth paste and a tooth brush. The team plans to go in the mid of December to supply to donate another three months supply to the girls to ensure that they continue to participate in school with dignity.
The generous donation of the sanitary dignity packs were made possible through a global village of women in the United States of America through Angel Rock Project South Africa which was founded by Ms. Malaak Compton-Rock.
 “If it takes a village, build one” – Ms. Malaak Compton-Rock, Founder-Angel Rock Project South Africa.
To support this initiative donate online by following this link. You can also drop in kind donations to:
Graça Machel Trust
Investment Place âBlock C
10th Road, Hyde Park 2196
Johannesburg, South Africa
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting childrenâs rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Childrenâs Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescentsâ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trustâs goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a motherâs health and social economic conditions, the early years of a childâs life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.