#FeelGoodTuesday: A Collaboration we are here for, South Africa's first sanitary pad vending machine
A new innovative project has been launched that seeks to help millions of young South African women.
An historical first was launched two weeks ago in Cape Town, led by men, which is in itself history in the making.
The project is said to be the first of its kind on the African continent - a sanitary pad vending machine.
Yes, you read right.
It was launched at the School of Hope Observatory in Cape Town by O Graceland (OGL) and the MENstruation Foundation. OGL is led by Durban-born Philani Zama and is a non-profit organisation that houses young girls out of childcare homes.
The MENstruation foundation is a charity organisation that fights period poverty. It is led by Marius Basson, whom Stacey and J Sbu managed to chat to, alongside Siv Ngesi and Babalwa Latsha.
READ: Siv Ngesi takes a stand on free sanitary pads debate
Listen as Basson gives more insight into the work that MENstruation seeks to do through their foundation below:
MENstruation believes that if men bled once a month, sanitary products would be free, and their main goal is to achieve this in SA.
Powerful and true, right?
The launch of the first vending machine is just the start. The project will be broken into subsequent phases that will ensure that more vending machines will be produced and distributed through partnerships with corporates to schools and community centres in order to fill the critical need for sanitary pads in our country.
The aim of the project is to create a sustainable free access module, where corporates can sponsor and fund a machine or machines.
This is a feel good story that we are fully behind! We need to remove the stigma of menstruation and not shy away from conversations around periods.
We should not still be talking about this in 2021.
To get involved in the work the foundation does, watch the video below:
Main image- Instagram @MENStruation
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