The Ntombi Project launches first pad drive with ITEC and Hodisa Technical Secondary School

The Ntombi Project, in collaboration with ITEC, launched its first sanitary pad drive with Hodisa Technical Secondary School. The social enterprise hosted an event at the school in Rocklands, Mangaung, to mark the momentous occasion. Guests included volunteers, ITEC consultant, Johan Volsteedt and speakers, Gabby Jordaan and Nozi Bonje.

Established in 2020, The Ntombi Project focuses on eliminating the unjust shortage of sanitary resources, menstrual education and cultural shame.

By joining forces with companies, influencers and NPOs, the project aims to ensure that female students in Quintile 2 and 3 secondary schools are provided with free access to sanitary products and menstrual education.

Before handing over enough pads to support each female student for two months, Mr Volsteedt, the former principal of Grey College School, welcomed Gabby and Nozi onto the stage. The young women, who hold a special place in Mr Volsteedt’s heart, shared their menstrual journeys with the female student audience, emphasising the importance of education and breaking the stigma attached to menstruation.

During her speech, Nozi read a quote by independent writer Madeleine Trebenski. She read: “Anything you can do, I can do bleeding.”

While the quote is unapologetically directed at men, Nozi noted that the passage in itself “stems power for us as women” and that women should never feel that menstruation is a disadvantage but rather a tool of empowerment and dignity.

To conclude the day’s event, Nozi shared her wish for a future world in which women no longer feel ashamed of themselves and their bodies – something The Ntombi Project hopes to build and achieve with the South African community.

“I can imagine a world where periods are loved. Where we eagerly anticipate the ideas and inspiration gathered from them. Where we talk about them with affection and warmth, where we set up a world to accommodate and support them, I can imagine a world where it feels so good to bleed.”

Speaking on behalf of Hodisa, Principal Rabela thanked ITEC and The Ntombi Project for helping their students make the best of their education without worrying about where resources for their next cycle will come from. Furthermore, he and his colleagues emphasised the need for sanitary products and menstrual education in schools, urging all those who can to pledge their support and keep our future female leaders in school.

“[The] Ntombi Project is opening doors and shutting old fashioned doors of the old culture of not talking about certain topics … The example by ITEC is trailblazing. It’s going to set standards for other companies to do the same for various schools like ours, schools in the townships.”