By Decide Nhendo
Masvingo Urban Women in Progress Community Group (UWPCG), a savings club that is donating sanitary wear to schools in Masvingo town recently took the charity initiative to Ndarama High School where they donated 139 packs of sanitary wear on July 26.
The donation is in fulfillment of the organization’s objective to mobilise resources to end period poverty in the province and it has so far donated 110 and 142 packs to Mucheke High and Masvingo Christian College respectively.
Speaking to TellZim News, UWPCG chairperson Regina Chabhanga said they realized that the girl child is more vulnerable hence they are trying to help, though in a small way.
“We do not have enough resources but we are going to do the little we can for our school-going children. Our wish is to extend to the communities and address other challenges affecting the girl-child,” said Chabhanga.
“We take heed to the advice we got from Masvingo Christian head Dr Edson Muresherwa to extend our hand to the boys also; so we are planning to come up with something for the boys soon,” Chabhanga added.
Ndarama High school head Oddy Matongo applauded the donation and UWPCG saying the donation would go a long way in serving girl leaners who are often absent themselves from school during their menstrual cycles due to lack of sanitary wear.
Matongo urged UWPCG and other players to take the initiative to rural schools as well.
“We are grateful because of what UWPCG has done, they have remembered the girl child by providing the essentials, and I pray that if resources permit, they should increase the numbers because we have a lot of girls who do not afford sanitary wear.
“I understand that we have economic challenges, but the effort by this group of women shows that they are determined to help the girl the child. This same initiative must be taken to rural areas because I am sure that most children there lack these essentials,” said Matongo.
UWPCG started in 2019 as a savings club and they contributed money which will then be lent to members who would return it with interest. They then started charity work where they help communities that are in need.
