By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Whisper a Dream Foundation (WADF) says that an innovative and inventive mindset is the key to financial freedom.
WADF Public Relations Officer Monalisa Milambo said empowering a girl child with innovative skills will help them birth the entrepreneur within them.
Ms Milambo said harnessing creativity through innovative workshops and motivational talk would give them a hope to see beyond their boundaries.
“It is sad to learn that girls in rural areas of Zambia are resolving to using cow dung and dry crashed maize cobs and little fabric from clothing they no longer need in order to absorb their period when it’s that time of the month,” she said.
She said her organisation instead of donating disposable pads to the girls in the rural areas has embarked on a project to teach them a skill that can help sustain them throughout their life time.
Ms Milambo said girls are taught how to making reusable sanitary pads using fabric that is readily available in their area.
She said simply donating disposable pads to these girls and walking away will not have an impact on them since periods come every month.
Ms Milambo said the lack of sanitary pads has led to many school going girls to have a low performance in class due to missing classes on days of menstruation simply.
She said many girls have resolved to shameless means of getting money in the sourcing of sanitary pads which has led to early pregnancy and an increase in the contracting HIV and other STI’s.
“Providing reusable sanitary pads will help keep the girls in school which will build their confidence in and outside class and give them the freedom ever girl and woman needs to have when it’s that time of the month because it’s inevitable. This will improve their performance in school.it will help them take part in extracurricular activities such as sports and interactive skills while they are on their period,” she said.
WADF have done a number of things in the county since October last year, they started with Mukuni village in Southern Province where they carried out a workshop teaching the woman and girls how to make reusable sanitary pads also opened their minds to other options available other than pads, for the first time many got to see tampons, and menstrual cups but it was sad to learn that many had never seen a disposable pad. The female chief joined Bedyango who was well pleased with what we passed on the girls of Mukuni village, during this workshop we taught the girls about menstrual hygiene, and menstrual heath matters, encouraged the girls to abstain and stay in school .we did the same in chef Nkomeshas village, and orphans at a home for disabled children. The women and girls taught them on breast cancer and awareness on how to take care of the pubic area.
Whisper a Dream Foundation is a nonprofit making organization that was formed in 2019 that is run by a team of young and vibrant self-motivated young ladies, whose dream is to bridge the skills gap in communities in any way possible starting with the simplest things around such as menstrual hygiene in rural areas.
