Facebook can be used for more than spreading fake news and bully videos.
The platform brought together a group of random people who started a campaign they hope to take to a national level.
Anathi Mase, 30, a nurse from Kuils River, says when she joined the Facebook group, Masonwabe, to meet people, she did not realise her vision to help vulnerable girls would take off like it did.
“One day someone brought up that we should collect sanitary pads to keep girls in school,” she says.
“I told them I already had 34 packs, as I have been silently collecting sanitary pads for school girls myself.”
Members of the group, outside the Western Cape, started sending cash and the collection of pads began in April.
On Friday, 154 Grade 8 girls at Kayamandi High in Stellenbosch were the first beneficiaries.
“The girls were so excited and the whole experience was overwhelming.
“Each girl got a pack of sanitary pads. We also told them we do not condone teenage pregnancy and encouraged them to study hard.
“We focused on Grade 8s as they still have the innocence of primary school. In future, we hope to expand this initiative to urban and extremely rural areas,” she says.
If you’d like to donate a pack of sanitary pads, please contact Anathi on 073 462 1231.
robin.francke@inl.co.za