UP Campus Tours and Pledge-A-Pad collaborate to donate feminine hygiene products to girls and women.

Progress in a world that is always changing is not only determined by technological developments but also by our dedication to tackling social challenges that have been long ignored. One such difficulty is period poverty, a silent battle faced by many women and girls. But there are also rays of light coming from programmes like Pledge-A-Pad, which are shining the way to a better future for all girls and women. 

Pledge-A-Pad educates people about the need for feminine hygiene and gives away free feminine hygiene products to those who are less fortunate. Imagine a society where every woman and girl has access to the supplies and knowledge that they require to handle their periods in a respectable, self-assured manner – this is the goal that Pledge-A-Pad works to achieve.

Hundreds of pads were purchased with a donation of R4 000 from the Walking Club for Diplomatic Spouses and Friends, which was on the look-out for a student-based organisation at the University of Pretoria’s (UP) that the pads could be given to for distribution. 

“A mutual desire to change the world motivated UP Campus Tours and Pledge-A-Pad to form a collaboration,” says Prof Karen Harris, Head of the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies and Director of UP Archives at UP. For underprivileged women and girls who frequently have to make tough choices due to financial constraints, these donations are a lifeline. They are now able to participate completely in school activities, work or community activities without restriction.