{"id":184165,"date":"2018-08-05T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-05T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/184165\/local-company-helps-100-girls\/"},"modified":"2018-08-03T22:32:22","modified_gmt":"2018-08-03T20:32:22","slug":"local-company-helps-100-girls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2018\/08\/05\/local-company-helps-100-girls\/","title":{"rendered":"Local company helps 100 girls"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grinding Media South Africa (GMSA) showed their support for Women\u2019s Month by donating sanitary pads to 100 girls from Ponego Secondary School in Katlehong on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

GMSA is a newly-registered entity, recently carved out of the Scaw Metals Group based in Germiston.<\/p>

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This sponsorship is part of the Always Keeping Girls in School programme, managed by local-based NGO The Footprints Foundation.<\/p>\n

Together with management, over 160 GMSA employees contributed a total of R6 000 to the project.<\/p>

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Initially, each girl was to receive one packet of sanitary pads, but with GMSA\u2019s support, the girls received six packs each.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are pleased to be associated with such a cause and that we can support as many girls as we can in this community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also commend our employees for not only planting the seed of the idea with management but also for the voluntary financial contribution that some of them sacrificed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a result, the company\u2019s decision to financially support this project has ensured that each girl gets an additional supply of sanitary pads,\u201d said Ray Abrahams, acting CEO of GMSA.<\/p>\n

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A puberty education session was led by professional nurse Nthabiseng Masalesa at Ponego Secondary School, on Wednesday.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0Palesa Pads promotes personal hygiene<\/a><\/h4>\n

In addition to the donation, the girls were given a puberty education session by Nthabiseng Masalesa, a professional nurse.<\/p>\n

The girls had numerous questions for Nthabiseng who encouraged them to have frequent feminine hygiene talks to confront the stigma surrounding menstrual cycles.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t suddenly become a filthy person that should be isolated when you\u2019re menstruating.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can still do all the activities you\u2019re used to doing.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe it sports, going out with friends or going to school.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour life should not be put on hold just because of your menstrual cycle,\u201d said Nthabiseng.<\/p>\n

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One hundred girls from Ponego Secondary School in Katlehong benefited from the Always Keeping Girls in School programme managed by The Footprints Foundation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nthabiseng advised the girls that using the correct size sanitary pad was also important and so was ensuring that basic hygiene was followed.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeeping clean and washing your hands after changing your sanitary pad is very important.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember to always seek advice from your general practitioner (GP) or nearest clinic should you experience complications or need clarity on feminine hygiene,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a newly-formed entity, this is the beginning of GMSA\u2019s support for our nearby communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur focus areas for our community partnerships are education, health and sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe in uplifting and making a difference in the communities in which the company operates,\u201d said Ray.<\/p>\n

GMSA affirms that they have a long-term plan to support other community projects in different focus areas.<\/p>\n

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Kwanele Makhubo, a learner at Ponego Secondary School, during the question and answer session about the stigmas surrounding menstrual cycles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0Contraceptives are not a one-size-fits-all remedy<\/a><\/h4>\n