Imagine a country where girls had access to education and most importantly, had sanitary towels whenever it was ‘that time of the month’, their menstrual cycle that is. Further, imagine, these young girls and women getting sufficient information about how to manage their menstrual cycle as well as using sanitary towels that caused no irritation, infections, and rashes. They wore them comfortably, they lasted while giving them nothing to worry about but go about their day. Just imagine that for a second.
However, the reality is a different picture. Millions of girls miss 3 to 5 days of school because of a lack of sanitary towels and proper menstrual products to help them manage this natural occurrence. With little help and no adequate education on menstrual hygiene management (MHM), they resort to homemade alternatives that are harmful to their body and health. Some girls go as far as utilizing tissue paper, newspaper, socks, and other available household rags to absorb blood. In the case of rural girls walking to school, the distance is long leading to absenteeism and even dropping out altogether. With the topic of menstruation taboo in many South African cultures, this often leaves the girls feeling embarrassed, ashamed and with little to no support during their menstrual cycle.
Therefore, the month of May is called International Menstrual Hygiene Month dedicated to highlighting the importance of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) as well as breaking social taboos that shroud the topic. As part of a global initiative, it brings together organizations, activists, and various sectors to lend their voice in this conversation. The idea is to promote education on period poverty and Menstrual Hygiene Management. Palesa Pads, a reusable sanitary pads manufacturing company has been playing its part in keeping the conversation about #KeepAGirlChildInSchool going. This is all in line with building the confidence of young girls and women in society to reach their full potential.
Its founder and CEO of Palesa Pads, Sherie de Wet has been partnering with corporate brands and other sponsors to bring accessibility to reusable sanitary pads.
The company was created to bring a lasting alternative, that brought dignity to the girls and young women with a better understanding of their menstrual cycle. In addition to advocating for the #keepagirlchildatschool initiative. “In April 2017 I read an article about girls that were missing 3 to 5 days of school each month, due to a lack of sanitary pads. I was horrified to think that their education was being compromised by something as natural and uncontrollable as a period. My research led me to discover the concept of cloth sanitary pads and how they have been around for millennia”, says de Wet.
Today, Palesa Pads manufactures high quality reusable sanitary pads made from material that is stain resistant with a microfiber absorbent core as well as a fully waterproof layer that keeps any accidental leakages at bay. They are washable and therefore reusable for up to five years, which is equivalent to a young girl schooling career. These reusable pads can be worn for up to 12 hours and then neatly folded and discreetly taken home for a wash. They have no odour and do not need a plastic bag to place the soiled pad in. And they last up to 5 years.
Since the reusable pads contain no chemicals, girls and young women experience fewer menstrual cramp, skin infections or irritations. Instead, helping them to go about their day and manage their menstrual cycle with dignity.
To date, Palesa Pads has visited over 100 schools and assisted over 80 000 girls to stay in school and to finish their schooling. De Wet says that “The sponsorship from companies has been a catalyst in driving the message home about ending period poverty as well as making cloth sanitary towels more accessible. With corporations coming on board, that has also allowed Palesa Pads to employ and train underprivileged women in various manufacturing and administrative skills”.
When visiting schools, the girls receive a Basic Flo Kit which consists of 3 reusable sanitary pads, in three different sizes along with a washing powder, bar soap and vinegar which is said to be a natural fabric softener and stain remover. This comes along with a drying clip, which is used to hang the pads on a normal hanger. All this comes in a black bucket. When asked about the black bucket, de Wet said, “The bucket is where the dignity comes in. When the girls or young women are washing their pads, they do not want people seeing the blood and rightfully so, which is what the black bucket affords them, that dignity and privacy to manage their period discreetly. It offers them that privacy which many often don’t have”.
