BY FLAVIA DAVIDS
The Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ), in partnership with Aurora, Pieke, Eendrag, Metanoia and Minerva are tackling period poverty with its “Dignity, Period” campaign.*
Period poverty is when people have limited or no access to sanitary products such as pads, tampons and menstrual cups. This is a social issue that affects many people living in unfavourable socioeconomic circumstances. Stellenbosch University (SU) residences and private student organisations (PSO’s) are collecting sanitary products in an attempt to fight the social issue.
SLSJ chairperson Kopano Lebele says that the project’s objective is to remove the stigma around talking about menstrual health and the sanitary hygiene of people who menstruate.
“The aim is to destigmatize the natural process which happens to members of our society,” said Lebele.
The sanitary products collected will be distributed around to the Stellenbosch Safe House, SU residences, PSOs and the SU Social Work office.
Donations can be dropped off at designated Minerva, Eendrag and Metanoia drop-off points, the Student Representative Council (SRC) office in the Neelsie, the Juridical Society (JV/S) office at the Ou Hoofgebou, as well as at the Aurora and Pieke PSO offices. Monetary donations are also accepted.
*SU residences Dagbreek, Sonop and Huis Ten Bosch previously collaborated with the SLSJ on the project, the goal of which is to collect 10 000 donations to distribute.
