Shimang Primary School and Emadwaleni High School in Orlando, Soweto, received a much-needed boost on Friday, 18 September 2026, after 400 sanitary pads were donated, with 200 pads going to each school, to support learners and help ensure that young girls can attend school with dignity and confidence.
The donation formed part of a community support initiative involving the Fundi Foundation, Standard Bank and African Child at Work, which came together to address a basic but important need affecting schoolgirls.
For many young learners, access to sanitary products is closely linked to their ability to attend school comfortably and participate fully in their education. The donation aims to ease some of the challenges faced by girls who might otherwise struggle to access these essential products.
Silas Mabunda, the facilitator from Fundi Foundation, said the initiative was about more than simply handing over sanitary products.
"Supporting young girls means recognising the everyday challenges they face and finding practical ways to assist. No girl should have to worry about missing school because she does not have access to sanitary products. Through partnerships like these, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of learners," said Mabunda.
The initiative also demonstrated the importance of collaboration between businesses, organisations, schools and communities in responding to challenges affecting young people.
While 400 sanitary pads may represent a single donation, for the learners receiving them, the contribution can provide much-needed support, dignity and peace of mind.
The partners behind the initiative said continued collaboration was essential to ensuring that young people are supported not only in the classroom but also in the circumstances that can affect their ability to learn and thrive.
For the schoolgirls of Orlando, the donation was a reminder that their education and wellbeing matter, and that their community is willing to stand behind them.
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