Valentine’s season is a period of celebrating love and affection. For some, it is not only an affair of chocolate and roses but a season to reach out to communities and spread love in kind.
To promote menstrual health amongst young girls living in marginalized communities in Zimbabwe, the Pink and Purple Foundation is in a drive to donate sanitary wear during Valentine’s period.
According to UNESCO, one in ten girls in Africa miss school during their period, leading to an eventual dropout. Research shows that in Zimbabwe, about 72% of rural girls do not use sanitary wear as the cost is generally higher.
Founder, Ms Farai Juliet Magada said the campaign is targeting school-going girls, especially in communities most affected by the lack of menstrual health in the Bulawayo and Matabeleland region.
“As Pink and Purple Foundation we realized that a lot of girls school-going girls aged between 11-17 years old in peri-urban and rural areas are greatly affected by period poverty, which is the lack of sanitary wear, leading them to miss lessons during their menstrual period, thus prompting the Valentine’s Sanitary Pads Drive.
We are hoping to donate 50 000 plus sanitary pads to girls in Matabeleland North and South and Bulawayo by end of the year with the generous help and support of the business community, well-wishers and churches,” said Ms Magada.
The campaign, starting on the 12th of February will see some girls being courted in girls talk focusing on issues including personal hygiene, abstinence, and self-value.
“It’s our first campaign as Pink and Purple Foundation though we have more campaigns in the pipeline whose main objective is to empower the girl child through awareness campaigns, education and vocational skills,” explained Magada.
The Pink and Purple Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Ms Farai Juliet Magada, also known as Farie Jules 2021.
It is built on five pillar sustainable goals consisting of poverty elimination, promotion of good health and well-being, education, gender equality and reducing inequalities.
“The foundation is inspired by my story as a child marriage survivor and I vowed to dedicate my life to educate, empower and inspire young women about child marriages, teenage pregnancies, abuse and mental health issues. As a mother of 3 daughters it pains me to see other young girls struggle with something that as a community we can find a lasting solution by helping others in need,” she further noted.
The Pink and Purple Foundation is stirred by Vision 2030 locally and Vision 2063 regionally. In the future, the organization is aiming at sailing international waters through awareness campaigns, education and events.
