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Flora Fadzai Sibanda, [email protected]

A SANITARY pads drive held in Bulawayo on Saturday by the Women Emancipate Yourself Foundation International (WEYFI) has raised more than 10 000 pads, R3 000 and US$400 that will be donated to the needy.

The organisation also used the event to launch its Zimbabwean chapter as the pad drive seeks to expand its impact in ‘helping keep the girl child at school’.

The event brought together women and young girls from Agape College who met at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre and offered a good networking space as participants shared business ideas and how to deal with different socio-economic challenges.

Life coaches and social workers also spoke about mental health issues and how these affect women, especially young girls who are at school if they are not taken care of at an early stage.

(WEYFI) founding director, Ms Judith Sadange said the donated pads were going to be handed over to a local school where there are more vulnerable girls.

Judith Sadange, director of woman emancipate yourself international organization during a pad drive recently held in Bulawayo

She said this was not a once-off initiative as the programme will be done every month and appealed for continued sponsorship.

“A lot of girls and women throughout the world go through pad difficulties in their lives yet they still keep quiet and suffer in silence,” she said. 

“I first opened this organisation in South Africa as l wanted to empower women and give them a voice especially women who are still growing that is our little girls by ensuring that no one misses school because they do not have pads.” 

After doing research, Mrs Sadange said she realised the need to come to establish the organisation in Zimbabwe and meet the needs of the young girls.

“l did not think people would show up and give us this kind of support at our launch. l am really happy with the effort that was put here by everyone,” she said.

She said their main mission was to empower women and girls throughout the world. Apart from the pad drive the organisation is also keen to assist pupils with free counselling sessions on mental health issues.

“l am grateful to everyone who made this launch and pad drive a success. l hope this was not the last time we get to see such support from everyone else and we will continue getting it as we move forward. 

“We will advise every one of the schools we will donate the pads to and that is going to be done very soon,” said Mrs Sadange. — @flora_sibanda