KWAZULU-Natal-based sugar manufacturer, Illovo Sugar South Africa, has continued its commitment to community upliftment by donating over 2,000 packs of sanitary pads to girls at schools in communities surrounding its mills.
To mark International Day of the Girl Child, Illovo Sugar SA donated a six-month supply of sanitary pads to girls at Sobantu High School in Pietermaritzburg. Representatives from Illovo’s Eston Mill near Camperdown and its head office joined the event to support the school and raise awareness of period poverty.
The donation to Sobantu High School follows similar contributions in August, during Women’s Month, when sanitary products were distributed to girls at several Illovo-adopted schools.
These schools included Lamontville High School in Durban, Sihle High School near the Sezela Mill, Gobizembe High School in Wartburg, Mabomvini Combined School near Eston Mill, and Siphosethu Primary School in Mount Edgecombe, Durban.
These products were generously contributed by Illovo Sugar SA employees, with each donation matched by the company in the lead-up to the Illovo Kilimanjaro Expedition 2024.
This inspiring expedition saw 17 climbers from eight countries across Illovo Sugar and its parent company, ABF Sugar, scale Mount Kilimanjaro, culminating in a summit on Mandela Day, 18 July, to raise funds aimed at ending period poverty and keeping girls in school.
The expedition also resulted in a significant contribution to the Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4Girls programme, a key partner working to alleviate period poverty by providing sanitary products to schoolgirls in need.
The World Bank estimates that around 500 million girls and women globally lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene, while the United Nations reports that one in ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their period due to the lack of sanitary products.
Representatives from Illovo Sugar SA who participated in the Kilimanjaro expedition included Judith Munsami from Eston Mill and Lunga Mthuli from Noodsberg Mill.
“Our Thuthuka Nathi social impact programme prioritises education as a critical way to strengthen community resilience,” said Ntombifuthi Ntanzi, communications and social impact manager at Illovo Sugar SA. “Breaking down barriers to education and empowering young women to stay in school and reach their full potential are causes close to our hearts. We’re grateful to make a meaningful impact and support young girls in achieving their dreams.”
