Washable sanitary pad developed
Melody Gwenyambira in Lusaka Zambia
Moved by the plight of school girls in South Africa with no access to
sanitary pads due to the poor financial situations Thulisile Mhlungu
developed a washable sanitary pad.
Thuli as she is affectionately known developed the washable pads which
her personal Social Project called Imbali and has improved the lives
of the girls in the country.
The girls were facing negative implications on their education after
they missed school.
Girls from six schools and one children’s home in KwaZulu Natal are
benefiting from the pads.
“The washable pads come in a bag which has four panties and nine
washable pads and a small plastic to put the used pad in. The washable
pad is made out of cotton and is clipped on the panties and after use
it can be placed in the small plastic and washed after school,” Mpume
Gumede told the participants that are attending the six day Training
of Trainers in Comprehensive Sexuality being hosted by Save The
Children International here.
The project has also seen capacity building in rural women living in
the areas as they have also received a chance to earn a livelihood,
“The women in the rural areas are the ones who are fitting the clips
of the panties from the panties they would have purchased. They are in
turn paid by Imbali,” Mpume added.
Apart from her Social Action Programme Thuli is involved in the Amway
Business as an “Emerald level” Business Owner, the first Black
business to achieve this in Amway’s 15 year history. Her collage of
experience in diverse fields - her previous positions leading in
sizeable organisations; her involvement in business as an
entrepreneur and in the corporate sector; her role in her community
as a Social Activist – enables a rich contribution from her to
authentically African leadership development.
Thuli is also a Social Activist fully awake to the challenges of South
Africa, the country of her birth, and the continent. In her words “I
am an African living in South Africa. This drives me, creates so much
tension in me.”
Moved by the plight of school girls in South Africa with no access to
sanitary pads due to the poor financial situations Thulisile Mhlungu
developed a washable sanitary pad.
Thuli as she is affectionately known developed the washable pads which
her personal Social Project called Imbali and has improved the lives
of the girls in the country.
The girls were facing negative implications on their education after
they missed school.
Girls from six schools and one children’s home in KwaZulu Natal are
benefiting from the pads.
“The washable pads come in a bag which has four panties and nine
washable pads and a small plastic to put the used pad in. The washable
pad is made out of cotton and is clipped on the panties and after use
it can be placed in the small plastic and washed after school,” Mpume
Gumede told the participants that are attending the six day Training
of Trainers in Comprehensive Sexuality being hosted by Save The
Children International here.
The project has also seen capacity building in rural women living in
the areas as they have also received a chance to earn a livelihood,
“The women in the rural areas are the ones who are fitting the clips
of the panties from the panties they would have purchased. They are in
turn paid by Imbali,” Mpume added.
Apart from her Social Action Programme Thuli is involved in the Amway
Business as an “Emerald level” Business Owner, the first Black
business to achieve this in Amway’s 15 year history. Her collage of
experience in diverse fields - her previous positions leading in
sizeable organisations; her involvement in business as an
entrepreneur and in the corporate sector; her role in her community
as a Social Activist – enables a rich contribution from her to
authentically African leadership development.
Thuli is also a Social Activist fully awake to the challenges of South
Africa, the country of her birth, and the continent. In her words “I
am an African living in South Africa. This drives me, creates so much
tension in me.”
