By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
A 12 year old girl in Germany, Caity Cutter, was inspired by the work of South African period poverty activist Tamara Magwashu to organize a significant charitable donation. Caity was moved to action after reading an article that revealed 30% of girls in South Africa miss school during their periods due to lack of sanitary products. This inspired her to convince her father, who had been saving money for a charitable cause, to donate to Magwashu's project.
Tamara Magwashu, who grew up using rags as sanitary pads and faced bullying, is determined to prevent other girls in her community from suffering similarly. She established her own business to distribute free sanitary pads to schools in rural and impoverished areas. Magwashu aims to ensure that every girl in need has access to sanitary products, which she views as a human rights issue.
Caity was struck by the disparities between her own life and those of girls her age in South Africa, who lack basic amenities such as clean water and toilets. Her efforts, alongside her father's donation, resulted in 500,000 pads being provided to marginalized communities, along with the establishment of a warehouse and hiring of staff to further distribute the pads.
Magwashu's nonprofit organization, Azosule, provides free sanitary pads to schools in the poorest communities and also sells affordable, sustainable products. She has secured a deal with South African supermarket Makro to stock her pads nationwide and in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Period poverty is a widespread issue, affecting at least 500 million women and girls globally. In South Africa, approximately seven million girls cannot afford sanitary products. A pan Africa investigation revealed that women in Ghana spend a significant portion of their income on sanitary towels. Moreover, a study in Madagascar by J Pal Africa demonstrated that proper washing facilities and hygiene education significantly improve girl's academic performance and attendance.
Through her interaction with Magwashu, Caity realized that providing sanitary products is only part of the solution. Education about menstrual hygiene is equally important, and Azosule sends teams into schools to educate both girls and boys.
Magwashu started Azosule in 2021 with funds saved from part time jobs and her student loan. Initially, she organized "pad drives" to distribute sanitary products in poor areas, but with the donation from Germany, she can now reach more schools and expand her efforts to Congo Brazzaville.
Magwashu expressed gratitude for Caity's efforts, noting that the donation made her feel seen and heard. She considers Caity a hero for making a significant difference in the lives of thousands of girls, preventing them from experiencing period poverty.