Nonprofit Distributes Hygiene Products Among Schoolgirls in Derban South

For hundreds of thousands of schoolgirls across South Africa, the monthly fear of missing classes due to the inability to afford basic hygiene products remains a heavy reality. In the Merebank community and surrounding southern areas, this quiet struggle is actively being overcome through a determined grassroots movement.

NGO Work and Fundraising

The local nonprofit organization Save the Dignity of Our School Girls, striving to keep vulnerable students in class, launched its latest distribution project as schools reopen this week, preparing to expand efforts as Women's Month approaches. To support this vital work, founder Roshni Nayker is collecting community support for a fundraising event in honor of Women's Day on August 9th at Punjab Circle Park in Merebank. The event will feature Zumba and yoga sessions, motivational speeches, and family activities, aiming to raise critical funds to sustain supplies.

The first 50 women attending the event will also receive free gift bags. Nayker stated: 'Our Women's Day event aims to unite the community and raise funds so we can continue to help needy schoolgirls.'

National Crisis and Educational Mission

This on-the-ground reality reflects a serious national crisis recently presented in Parliament. In parliamentary discussions on menstrual health, civil society representatives reported that an estimated 83 percent of South African schoolgirls lack consistent access to hygiene products, forcing one in four girls to miss school every month. While civil society calls on lawmakers to adopt the proposed Menstrual Health Rights Act for universal access, grassroots NGOs like Nayker's organization continue to do the essential work on the ground.

The current distribution drive is moving through local classrooms, starting with Nizam Road Primary, and then expanding to Alipore Primary, Settlers Primary, and Parsee Rustomjee Primary. Founded in 2021, the NGO has become one of the most crucial lifelines in the southern area community. Over the past five years, the initiative has distributed more than 30,000 sanitary pads, including about 20,000 through its specialized school program, providing consistent monthly support to approximately 200 girls in eight primary schools.

Expanding Aid and Education

Although the organization's main focus remains on Merebank, it provides emergency aid to students in Bluff, Chatsworth, and Phoenix, as well as partner groups in Tongaat, Kokstad, and Pretoria. Nayker explained: 'My main focus is the schools in Merebank. I try to raise awareness and educate young girls who are often embarrassed to ask teachers when they need this basic item.'

Beyond simple product distribution, the organization places great emphasis on menstrual health education, dispelling myths and dismantling the deeply ingrained stigma surrounding menstruation. For Nayker, the urgent need for her work became clear through a heartbreaking message from a young student. She recalled: 'The girl thanked me for the sanitary pads because before she had to miss school and tear up old t-shirts to use them during her cycle. That message touched me deeply.'

Financial Sustainability and Call for Support

Despite growing influence, financial sustainability remains a constant challenge for the NGO. Nayker reported: 'I rely on public donations, fundraising campaigns at local shopping centers, and profits from my small business, Donlee Creations, to continue this work.' Transportation also presents a significant hurdle, as she primarily uses Uber, relying on volunteers or family members for deliveries outside the southern area.

Nayker strongly urged community members to actively support the cause through product donations or by participating in the Women's Day fundraising event. She advised: 'When you are grocery shopping, put one or two extra packs of sanitary pads in your cart and donate them. Even a small contribution can help a girl stay in school with dignity.'