Help CPF youth desk collect toiletries for girls in need
Breaking the cycle of poverty, the Greenwood Park Community Policing Forum (CPF) youth desk started a drive to collect toiletries for the many girls who don’t go to school when they menstruate because they can’t afford sanitary towels.
These girls are forced to stay home from school for up to seven days a month – missing out on vital learning time - which results in some of them dropping out of school and increasing their chances of living in poverty.
Chairperson of the CPF youth desk, Ashlin Ellan, said this problem had been brought to the attention of the youth desk by school girls in the community. The girls raised the concern for many of their friends who don’t come to school because they don’t have necessary toiletries, said Mr Ellan. He said they started the Women Empowerment Drive on June 1.
“Our intention is to appeal to our community and to those more fortunate to assist us in rectifying this injustice and provide our learners with the dignity to attend school and receive quality education,” said Mr Ellan.
“The Drive not only hands out toiletry packs but we also plan to host the young learners in an empowerment workshop soon.”
The youth desk is a sub-committee of the Greenwood Community Police Forum. Its main function is to empower the youth about the police services and social issues, develop strong leadership and launch a safe support center for the youth, said Mr Ellan.
“We aim to create safer spaces within our community and improve the livelihoods of our youth,” he said.
“The response unfortunately has been slow; we will be handing out the hampers at an empowerment programme coming up soon. The aim of this initiative was due to the high rate of absenteeism of school girls. We are most definitely looking at a strategy to sustain this drive and we are hoping to secure sponsors who will assist us.
“We are appealing to the community and businesses to contribute. We don't have any sponsors on board yet however Green Buddies Environmental Club and UKZN Westville Campus Hindu Students Association are on board in helping us collect toiletries.”
Mr Ellan added that the drive also aims to ensure youth are kept in safe spaces and are receiving their basic rights despite the tough economic times.
The drop-off points for toiletries and sanitary pads are Liberty Hall, 1356 North Coast Road, Avoca; Rega Temple, 209 Effingham Road, Effingham Heights; Greenwood Park Shree Ranganathar Temple, 377 Parkstation Road, Greenwood Park.