Western Cape DSD Enhances School Attendance for Girls Through Sanitary Dignity Project

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) in association with the Western Cape Education Department, has achieved a notable milestone through its Sanitary Dignity Project, by distributing over 3.432 million sanitary pad packs to school learners. Aimed at enhancing the overall well-being of school-going girls, the project continues to fight period poverty, enabling them to regularly attend school without disruption.

Since its inception, the project has noted a steady increase in beneficiaries. In the fiscal year 2020/21, the project assisted 94,817 girls across 220 schools, whereas the present fiscal year witnesses an upsurge to 130,396 student beneficiaries across a network of 365 schools. The project has penetrated different school environments, including farm schools, special education institutions, and child and youth care facilities sponsored by the DSD.

This noteworthy achievement comes as the world commemorates the International Day of the Girl Child on 11th October, annually. This year, the poignant theme is 'Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-Being'. The United Nations echoes the importance of the day in recognizing the unique challenges faced by girls worldwide and the significance of their rights.

Sharna Fernandez, the Western Cape’s Minister of Social Development, emphasized the necessity for such initiatives, stating that period poverty can hamper school attendance for girls without access to sanitary products. She encouraged societal support stating, "We all must do our part in our homes and communities to dismantle the inequalities and challenges faced by girls and to ensure that their voices and experiences are valued."