Instead of saving up to buy her dream phone, Tuyeimo Ndelitungapo Ndeshilile (15) saved her pocket money and bought sanitary pads for less fortunate women and girls.
The Grade 10 learner of St Boniface College in Rundu recently donated pads to 120 girls of the Shambyu Combined School in Kavango East.
“I spent the little pocket money I usually get from my parents just to buy those pads because I don’t want girls to miss classes when it comes to menstruation (and lack of pads),” she told
Youth Corner.
The donation of sanitary products is part of her project ‘Girl Talk Empowerment’, which she started two years ago when she realised that she was good at empowering and motivating people.
The girl’s club aims to help boost the status of women and young girls through literacy, education, training and awareness creation.
Ndeshilile, who wants to become a lawyer to advocate for human rights, said growing up, she always heard stories about young girls, especially in the villages, who couldn’t go to school because they were on their periods and did not have sanitary pads to see them through the day.
“I thought to myself how fortunate I am to have all this readily available. It was then that I realised we need to change this. So, instead of saving up for my dream phone because it could wait, I became the change that I wanted to see by donating pads.”
Ndeshilile explained that her biggest dream would be to see the ‘Girl Talk Empowerment’ club expand and, in the near future, also donate pads to young girls in need countrywide.
“I would also like to host more empowerment talks all over the country. To add to that, it would be a dream come true to get sponsors who would help bring my dreams to life.”
Ndeshilile said many girls do not have access to pads since they can’t afford it, and wants to be the reason why young girls do not miss classes.
To her peers, she said: “The world is yours, do not be afraid to get up and start working on your dreams. I encourage each and every one of you to do something that will empower and uplift others”.
“We only start to see change when we become the change that we want to see. Even the smallest of efforts count, so keep doing a little good every day, and one day we will have an empowered nation. Remember, you are never too young to start.”
Ndeshilile can be contacted on email: deckkytuyeimo@gmail.com; Instagram: @_deckyy
– fthamalwa@gmail.com