Staff at Time Square in Pretoria collected over 600 sanitary products for girls at Soshanguve High School, with the casino matching the donation.
When the COVID-19 pandemic affected Time Squareâs ability to carry out their usual socio-economic development (SED) projects, staff at the Pretoria casino stepped up to help the communities that would normally benefit from the casinoâs SED budget.
After hearing about the impact of period poverty â which refers to the lack of sanitary products â on girl learners at Soshanguve High School, the staff rallied to buy and collect pads and tampons. The casino matched the staffâs donation with over 1 200 sanitary products delivered to the school last week.
According to a report by the Global Citizen organisation, an estimated 3.7 million South African girls cannot afford sanitary products. As many as 30% of girl learners do not attend school while they are menstruating, according to a study by Stellenbosch University.
âThe school serves an underprivileged community, where many families survive on a government grant. Unfortunately, sanitary pads are seen as a luxury. Most learners will either stay at home when they are on their period because they fear being mocked by others or ask teachers for pads that we donât always have,â said Sindi Ndlovu, head of department at the school. âGetting your period should be a time to embrace your womanhood, but it isnât for these girls. A period is yet another financial challenge they must face.â
Time Square adopted the school as part of Sun Internationalâs Adopt-A-School initiative, where business units identify schools to support, from maintaining infrastructure to donating much-needed learning materials.
âThe pandemic hampered our ability to help our adopted schools, but we still want to make an impact in the communities which fall under our operating license,â said Time Square General Manager Ruben Gooranah. âWe came up with a project to donate sanitary pads to the school â whatever the staff collected; we doubled.
âOur people were eager to help the school, with departments competing to collect the most sanitary products. Some collected money and went out and bought the products.â
The sanitary products will be kept at the school and distributed to identified girls every month.Sun International’s R5-billion Time Square development in Menlyn, Pretoria comprises of a casino, hotel, conference centre, a multi-purpose arena and a wide choice of bars and restaurants and entertainment facilities.
It represents the Group’s biggest development in the hospitality, gaming and leisure industry since the construction of GrandWest Casino in Cape Town, in 2000. It is the biggest such entertainment venue in Gauteng.
Sun International supports responsible gaming. Gambling for persons 18 years and older. Winners know when to stop. National responsible gambling tollfree counselling helpline 0800 006 008 or sms âhelpâ to 076 675 0710. For more information visit: Responsible Gambling.
