Period poverty is a major issue in South Africa, with over seven million people currently menstruating without dignity in the country.
This is according to Chantelle Goliath, founder and director of New Heritage Foundation (NHF), a non-profit organisation aimed at ending period poverty.
“I think with menstruation, and the poverty and restrictions on girls and women in general – it should be a priority. It’s a crisis that we need to tackle, like we are tackling gender-based violence and the safety of women and girls,” said Goliath.
Chantelle Goliath, founder and director of New Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organisation aimed at ending period poverty, during an event at the Morgenhof Wine Estate on 20 August. “For us, reproductive health is so special and girls don’t understand it. They think if they use toilet paper for two days or three days it’s okay. Some of them, even in 2022, are using newspaper and baby socks as tampons,” said Goliath. PHOTO: Cody Hansen
The NHF was involved in a public event hosted on 20 August at the Morgenhof Wine Estate, with the aim of raising awareness about period poverty and celebrating women. The event involved a discussion about period poverty, and the donation of boxes of pads and pantyliners.
The event was a collaboration between Maties Sport, Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Student Representative Council’s (SRC) sport and womxn and queer empowerment (WAQE) portfolios, and the NHF.
“We are trying to promote students and staff members to get involved in ending period poverty at Stellenbosch University,” said Tanyaradzwa Constance Chiza, outgoing SRC sports manager.
A public event was held on 20 August at the Morgenhof Wine Estate in Stellenbosch to raise awareness about period poverty, while also celebrating women as part of women’s month. The event was a collaboration between Maties Sport, Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Student Representative Council’s (SRC) Sport and Woman and Queer Empowerment (WAQE) portfolio’s, and the New Heritage Foundation. PHOTO: Cody Hansen
A need for change
The core function of the NHF is to end period poverty for those menstruating without dignity in underserved communities by providing menstrual hygiene management and sexual reproductive health education, according to Goliath.
“We don’t just do pads, we do skills development as well. So we teach them how to make reusable sanitary pads from upcycling material – and that way they play their part in the environment as well,” said Goliath.
The NHF also aims to remove the stigma and social taboos surrounding menstruation, she said.
“There’s a lot of girls going through abuse, especially in underserved communities. And because they don’t understand reproductive health – they don’t know how their body changes, and it’s not really celebrated that much,” said Goliath.
“The quality of sanitary pads for us is a big thing,” said Chantelle Goliath, founder and director of New Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organisation aimed at ending period poverty. It is important for women to understand which products they can use for their bodies, as some may have sensitive skin and require different products, she said. PHOTO: Cody Hansen
Inclusivity in sport
The event was also about promoting inclusivity in sport, said Andiswa Zwelibanzi, sport manager at Maties Sport, responsible for the recreation and active lifestyle unit.
“There is a gap in the sporting realm, where women are overlooked quite easily and don’t have access to sanitary products,” said Chiza.
“It’s important for everyone to feel included in everything that we do in all our sporting codes,” said Zwelibanzi.
A public event was held on 20 August at the Morgenhof Wine Estate, with the aim of raising awareness about period poverty and celebrating women. Attendees of the event also got the chance to cycle around the estate to promote Matie Bikes. “It’s something that we found there is a need to have considering the rise in fuel prices and the lack of proper exercise amongst students,” said Tanyaradzwa Constance Chiza, outgoing Student Representative Council sports manager. VIDEO: Cody Hansen
Cycling for the cause
Attendees at the event also got the chance to cycle around the estate to promote Matie Bikes.
“It’s something that we found there is a need to have, considering the rise in fuel prices and the lack of proper exercise amongst students,” said Chiza.