DIGNITY RESTORE breaks chains, girls are tied to!

DIGNITY RESTORE BREAKS THE CHAINS GIRLS ARE TIED TO!

“My sisters are missing school because sanitary towels are too expensive, but it is considered insignificant as the rich aren’t affected. Politicians toss words around, dressing them with obscure meanings about how it’s going to be okay. Well, is it? There’s a tsunami of heartache within me because my sisters’ greatness is hindered by the fact that she bears the fruit of life within her as if it were a choice. But like I said, it’s considered insignificant because the rich aren’t affected.”
-Tshiamo Mokgage

The above-quoted poem is the true definition and epitome of what has been transpiring in young girls’ lives all over South Africa. It depicts everyday burning struggles encountered by many girls around the globe and represents how their experiences are overlooked. Furthermore, it is a call to everyone who is able to care and to assist young girls with their basic needs to help the best way possible.

Fortunately for Monyakeng girls, neighbours heard their cries and were industrious in banding together their efforts to assist young women who lack access to sanitary products. And consequently, I was afforded the privilege of sitting down with the founders of Dignity Restore Campaign for Monyakeng girls to learn more about their upcoming event:

What is Dignity Restore and what influenced the name? (Molebatsi Matube)
Dignity Restore is an initiative that is meant to restore the dignity of poor girl children, the dignity that is taken away from them by poverty.
The initiative was influenced by the realisation of the challenges that are faced by girls that can’t afford sanitary towels, amongst many of those challenges the one that stands out is their inability to attend school during their female period cycle.

What inspired you to establish the initiative? (Nthabiseng Matube)
For this year’s Mandela Day, Western Cape Liquor Authority did their 60 minutes at an orphanage in Nyanga by the name of Masibambane. One of the things that I bought for them was sanitary towels. I had a chat with girls that stay there and they indicated that one of the biggest challenges is that they are unable to afford toiletries, which includes sanitary towels.

This was a sad day for me, I went home and told my husband (Molebatsi Matube) about this and that I want to help those girls, he agreed and we are providing support to date. I thought hold on, if I can do it here, why not do the same at home also. I had a chat with a sister from another mother (Pinky Diphahe aka De Pink1) and my husband about starting a sanitary project drive ko kasi and both of them agreed to be part of it.

Who will be spearheading the Dignity Restore Campaign event? (Nthabiseng Matube)
The event will be spearheaded by Nthabiseng Matube, Molebatsi Matube and Pinky Diphahe.

Which criteria will be utilized for the distribution of sanitary products? (Molebatsi Matube)
No set criteria as yet, except to say all the received donations will be shared equally amongst the 7 Monyakeng Schools.

Initiatives of this calibre have been executed in a rather formal fashion, why did you opt for a Braai instead? (Pinky Diphahe)
The key here is to reach different sections of society which similar formal functions are unable to reach; as well as taking advantage of the festive season spirit of giving the people have. It is through a braai that we will have a huge volume of supporters in order to achieve the mission and vision of Dignity Restore, the kasi style.

How significant is it for young girls to receive sanitary products? (Pinky Diphahe)
Adolescence is a crucial stage of life and one that is challenging for most girls because of its physical and psychological changes, especially for girls from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. Lack of sanitary towels disempowers girls as they have to stay home. It means no school, no leaving home, no joy! They face emotional and psychological stress. It is very important that we assist those who have lack of access to sanitary products because girls need to stay in school throughout the year like boys. Let’s make the situation better for the girls in our community because the poverty circle in Monyakeng can be broken when girls stay in school.

Do you believe that it’s necessary to groom young boys to respect and change their adverse perspective regarding a woman’s need for sanitary products or system of nature? (Molebatsi Matube)
Yes, it is necessary. Our society doesn’t teach boys the importance of a female period cycle, we only address the issue to girls that are experiencing it and that information is only limited to them. This issue has been treated like a taboo for far too long, it is time we expose boys to the importance of supporting girls that are going through it.

How do we educate people regarding a plethora of stimuli associated with lack of sanitary towels that infringe young girls from being free to compete with boys in everyday activities? (Pinky Diphahe)
Menstruation is treated with silence and as a taboo which limits adolescent girl’s access to relevant and important information about their bodies. The subject is hardly ever discussed in families, resulting in it equally not being an easy topic of discussion and engagement in schools. We all have the power to effect change, be it at home or schools, and to openly discuss and educate people about the plight our young girls go through due to lack of sanitary towels. It is through initiatives such as Dignity Restore that we will be able to educate people about the difficulties our young girls with lack of access to menstrual products face.

When and where will the event take place? (Nthabiseng Matube)
The event will take place Monday, 26 December 2016 at Phola Park from 12:00 till late.

What can we look forward to in the event? (Molebatsi Matube)
We have lined up a series of local DJs for entertainment, kiddies entertainment programs, braaing facility and the after-party.

Do you plan for Dignity Restore to be a once-off event or a perpetual event? (Nthabiseng Matube)
We plan for it to be a perpetual event.

Any words of hope and encouragement to young girls who are in need of sanitary products? (Pinky Diphahe)
Remember that it is not where you come from or where you are, it is where you are going that matters the most. Your current situation does not define you. Your strength and courage does. Always remember that you are beautiful, you are phenomenal and you are irreplaceable and unique. It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

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I would like to thank the founders of Dignity Restore for making time to tell us about their upcoming event. Here at KasiLevesa Magazine, we salute and congratulate you on a fantastic cause that will bring change in our own community. It is through such initiatives the dignity of Monyakeng girls can be restored. We are behind you all the way!

Food for thought: Winston Churchill once said: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”.

I believe we all want to live a good life, and in order to do so, we have to learn how to give back and start employing the principles of Ubuntu amongst each other. Brothers and sisters, we are faced with a crucial question today: Are we firstly going to help fix our neighbours plumbing whilst we have a pipe leakage in our own houses? I say it’s time to focus on our own community and give charity back. It’s time we support one another in efforts to restore our community.

Like the founders of Dignity Restore, I choose to stand for the positive re-establishment of our town. What do you choose?

For DONATIONS and more INFO about the event, please contact/visit the following:
Twitter: @DignityRestore
Facebook events: Bring n Braai 4 a good cause
Web: @KasiLevesa.co.za
Cell: Nthabiseng (071 7119 092), Molebatsi (083 3634 397) or Pinky (082 8940 208)

Article By Simi W
(Life is beautiful)