On Friday, 13 May 2022, Sasol’s Sasolburg and Ekandustria Operations donated a year’s worth of sanitary towels valued at R216 000 to vulnerable learners as part of its ‘Keep a Girl in School’ initiative.
The Sasol ‘Keep a Girl in School’ initiative will not only provide sanitary towels to 900 girls over 12 months, but they will provide information about menstrual health as a way of empowering them for the next phase of their lives.
Other than the stigma that is faced by young women as a result of having their period, it is an uncomfortable truth that young girls must also deal with lack of menstrual pads on a monthly basis. Previous studies show that an estimated 30% of South African girls do not attend school while they are on their period because they do not have sanitary products. Sasol recognises that this has far reaching social, economic and mental consequences for affected girls, and the company is proud to play its part in minimising the impact and restoring their right to dignity.
“As Sasol, we have been extensively involved in ‘Keep a Girl in School’ initiatives in many of our fenceline communities over the years; however, this is the first time we are extending the project to the communities around our Ekandustria Operations,” said Thuli Mbuli, the Head of Community Affairs for Sasolburg and Ekandustria Operations at Sasol.
“Our investment in society is borne out of recognition of the important and symbiotic relationship we have with our communities and society at large, that is why we worked with partners to identify the most vulnerable learners to benefit from this initiative,” she continued.
Furthermore, Sasol’s continued commitment in the investment of future generations also extends to its long-standing ‘Winter Warm’ initiative. “Our societies are going through challenging times and there are other reasons why learners miss school such as lack of school shoes, especially in winter. As a company we are therefore committing to donate 720 new pairs of school shoes to children in all schools in our direct fence line communities valued at R200 000 – because we are determined to keep our children in school,” said Mbuli.
According to recent studies, children in South Africa are amongst 7-million pupils in Africa who attend school either barefoot or without proper footwear, risking injury and infection. Over the past few years, South African winters have become colder, Sasol’s Sasolburg and Ekandustria Operations is providing the shoes to assist the learners to face the hardship of winter and restore their self-esteem.
Sasol is proud to support the vulnerable leaners in our society. “Our interventions in education are driven by a need to see a meaningful change in our youth and prepare them for a future which will enable them to be economically sustainable,” concluded Mbuli.
