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Blessing Karubwa, Chronicle Reporter
DOVES Life Assurance has donated over 400 disposable and reusable pads in Bulawayo and Plumtree for use by disadvantaged young girls to enable them to continue attending school.

The company partnered with novelist and academic Miss Yvonne Maphosa who is mobilising for pads using social media and is working with Girls Table, an organisation that assists young girls to distribute donations to disadvantaged girls in society and various institutions around the country.

Doves’ regional supervisor of sales marketing, Mr Joseph Sithole, said with the provision of sanitary wear, they want young girls to continue with their daily activities, such as attending school and playing sports.

He said the company saw it fit to assist young girls to bring back a degree of self-esteem to them.

“As an organisation we are known for giving dignified send-offs to our clients and their families. With Miss Yvonne Maphosa’s proposal we saw an opportunity to bring back a degree of dignity to some young girls,” said Mr Sithole.

He said the company donated 408 pads which are going to be distributed by Miss Maphosa to women shelters and organisations working with disadvantaged girls and women around Zimbabwe.

He expressed gratitude to Miss Maphosa and said the initiative must be supported to grow and cater for more young girls.

Miss Maphosa said: “I have seen young girls in Plumtree using cow dung and this has touched me to an extent that I have voluntarily decided to help them by being their voice. I would be asking for donations from people under the campaign, ‘Buy a pad campaign with Yvonne’ and take them to shelters that take care for women for example Childline and Haven Trust in Hillside.”

Miss Maphosa said the pads are going to be distributed in Bulawayo and Plumtree.

“258 disposable reusable pads are being sent to SOS village, 30 Pads to The Haven Trust, Hillside while 24 pads to Emthunzini weThemba in Bulawayo. In Plumtree I will deliver 96 pads,” she said.

Miss Maphosa said the long-term plan is to move to reusable pads.

“The plan is to move to reusable pads and they are good because they can as well be washed hence they last longer unlike other types of pads which will force us to keep on donating and they would have exhausted them,” she said.

So far partners of her campaign are Doves, Hyundai, ZimParks, Girls’ Table and Toundtainment. – @ TichaKarubwa.