University of the Free State: UFS student to produce cheaper sanitary towels for disadvantaged girls, women
A final-year Psychology student at the University of the Free State (UFS) is in the process of registering and producing sanitary towels for young girls and women from disadvantaged backgrounds through her non-profit organisation.
Katleho Leqheku, founder and Chairperson of the Alnisa Continua organisation, said the price of the sanitary towels – which they aim to have available in most retail stores – will be only R3 to make it more accessible to the target market.
Caring for the needy
“By producing the sanitary towels, we want to contribute to the fight against period poverty, because young girls and women are unable to afford sanitary products due to their challenging backgrounds and end up using unhygienic ways just to get by.”
“I started the organisation because I saw a gap at the university residence, with no women empowerment and most female students not putting themselves out there to be heard. I also noticed that most of my peers were struggling to afford sanitary towels and were too shy to seek help.”
The registered non-profit organisation was formed in 2020 after Leqheku, currently in the final year of her undergraduate degree in Psychology on the Bloemfontein Campus, realised that working together as a society, challenges such as ‘period poverty’, the stigmatisation of mental health issues, and girl-on-girl hate can be overcome.
It takes ‘action, more than just words’
The Alnisa Continua organisation knows that it takes ‘action, more than just words’ to make a positive impact in society, as its three founding pillars are – women empowerment, mental health, and mentorship.
Since it started, the organisation has held talks in more than half of the residences on the Bloemfontein Campus to support and awake the ‘sleeping giants in female students.’ She said: “We encourage students that you are not defined by your background.”
According to her, it has not been an easy journey – the first team she assembled showed no desire, and the second team wanted to do things without her.
She said: “In 2019, I organised everything, but the team just did not pitch. I was left shattered, worrying if the ‘baby will ever be born’; the other team just went on to do things without me. In 2021, I decided to go out full force and make the dream a reality.”
“I could not wait for validation or financial stability and used my book allowance to buy R500 worth of sanitary pads to donate to needy students. My parents also helped by purchasing T-shirts for the team and producing two banners.”
The team aims to grow the organisation by working with high schools and opening branches outside the university. Said Leqheku: “I know it will take time, but we cannot wait for the government; we should use the little we have to contribute to change. I want the organisation not to be there for itself, but to have a meaningful impact with the work it does.”
Leqheku and her team are working hard to launch Alnisa sanitary towels in mid-November 2022.