Komani to Komani: Empowering Girls, One Reusable Pad at a Time
Komani, the award-winning social enterprise under The Umtshayelo Foundation, embarks on an ambitious road trip with a powerful mission: to bridge the gap in period poverty and empower girls across South Africa. The K2K campaign – Komani to Komani (Queenstown) – will deliver 10,000 reusable sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene education to students along the N2 and N1 highways, culminating in Queenstown.
Join the K2K – 2024 campaign and become part of the journey towards promoting period positivity. The mission leads to Komani (Queenstown) via the N2, with a return journey on the N1, where there will be essential Komani period pad drop-offs along the way.
“This is not just another campaign – it’s a clarion call. For two years, we’ve heard pleas from schools, and seen the heartbreaking impact of period poverty. In September 2024, the K2K movement roars to life with 10,000 reusable sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene education to students along the N2 and N1 highways. Join us and together, let’s rewrite the story of period poverty in South Africa”, expresses Stephanie Lamour Komani Director.
Period Poverty: A Silent Struggle
As of May 2023, more than 7 million South African menstruators lack access to period products, a reality known as period poverty. This silent struggle impacts girls’ education, health, and overall well-being, forcing them to resort to unhygienic alternatives or miss school altogether. Komani is committed to changing this narrative.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Puberty Education & menstrual hygiene management report, there is a feminine dignity crisis in South Africa. UNESCO estimates that one in ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss school during her menstrual cycle, due to not having sanitary protection. Up to twenty percent of school attendance in a calendar year is missed as a result.
Komani’s reusable sanitary pads are more than just a product; they symbolise dignity, environmental responsibility, and progress. These washable and long-lasting pads offer a sustainable and affordable solution to period poverty, while simultaneously reducing landfill waste.
Environmental Impact:
Did you know that conventional disposables take between 500-800 years to decompose? In contrast, one pack of Komani Reusable Pads is guaranteed to last for a minimum of 3 years, preventing an average of 400 conventional pads from ending up in landfills. By making the switch to reusable pads, you’re not only supporting women and girls but also contributing to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
Become part of the K2K movement and help empower girls in South Africa:
Partner: Support a school or girl through your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. Your partnership can be life-changing.
Support a School: Join in reaching schools on the Komani waitlist. Your contribution ensures more girls have access to quality menstrual products.
Raise Sponsorship: Help Komani raise funds to reach even more individuals in need. Every donation counts.
About Komani:
Komani, meaning “female royalty,” is an award-winning social enterprise committed to transforming the lives of menstruators through affordable, reusable sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene education. They believe every woman and girl has the right to menstruate with dignity and make a positive impact on the environment.
Komani, through its production and distribution efforts, economically empowers a variety of previously unemployed women. All service providers receive training and skills development, to equip them to become part of our innovative social enterprise and work towards their own economic sustainability.
Connect with Komani:
Instagram: @komani_girl
Facebook: Komani
Website: www.komani.org
Phone: 021 569 1363
