A voice to the voiceless

Mariselle Stofberg
Elizabeth Joseph

During the weekend, the Voiceless Voice Foundation hosted an event to help empower young women in Okahandja.

According to the foundation’s founder, Patricia Hawaes, the purpose of the event was to donate and distribute sanitary products to less privileged schoolgirls in the Okahandja constituency.

"We aim to keep girls in school during that period of the month and for them to be able to manage their menstruation in a dignified manner.

“Lack of adequate sanitary products can lead to low self-esteem, lack of confidence and their health is at greater risk," she said.

Voiceless Voice Foundation is an NGO that combats gender-based violence in the Oshetu informal settlement of Okahandja.

"As a community worker, I have discovered that the girls are using dirty cloths, mattress pieces, newspapers and many other items. It has touched me deeply and I came up with this initiative of distributing sanitary towels to the fewer privileged girls in schools.

“This is a sustainable programme whereby we will ensure that the girls receive sanitary products every month," Hawaes added.

The event was attended by learners from different schools in Okahandja. The beneficiaries were grateful for the initiative and it urged them to work harder in school.

The sanitary towels were donated by the staff of the Okahandja branch of Standard Bank.