The girl-child, empowered

Mariselle Stofberg
Elizabeth Joseph

Project 1000 Pads still reaching through service

Project 1000 Pads was established in 2020 in Windhoek by Johanna Mushelenga and her co-founders. According to Mushelenga, the primary objective of the project is to increase access to collecting sanitary products and pads from various donors, individuals, business entities, and non-governmental organisations.

"We make use of help from different foundations and good Samaritans to distribute pads to vulnerable schoolgirls from the most impoverished homes and backgrounds," she says.

Furthermore, Mushelenga says that the vision of the project is to reach the collection of 1 000 sanitary products which will then be equally distributed among girls from vulnerable backgrounds and later in other regions.

"As the co-founder and main organiser for Project 1000 Pads, I have collaborated with Watyako Foundation and they have pledged to assist the project, however, I still plead for massive support and donations from different sources," she says.

At the core of the project is also to break the silence on menstruation by informing girls about menstruation.

"We also want to increase the self-esteem and confidence of adolescent girls on menstrual matters through open discussions and focused empowerment," she added.

So far, during the period of their operations, the project has donated 400 packs of sanitary pads in August 2020 to the Dr Hage Geingob Secondary School in Windhoek.

These donations benefited 100 female learners at the school. "Although we have made some great strides, we still have a milestone to accomplish in meeting the efforts of the government and implementing partners halfway," Mushelenga says.

Importance

Mushelenga further mentions that the majority of schoolgirls in Namibia are living in poverty where neither of the parents is employed.

"It is unfortunate and very sad to know that young girls living in such circumstances are often in difficult situations when it comes to menstruation as a result of the limited availability of sanitary pads.

“Projects of this nature make a difference in the lives of Namibian girls by keeping them in school and ensuring that their hygiene and health are not at risk because there is the availability of sanitary products."

Equipping the youth

Project 1000 is open for collaboration and involvement of young people to increase the number of sanitary products collected through donations and to reach a wider range of beneficiaries.

"Collaborations in this regard are always welcome from all entities so should anyone want to collaborate or perhaps donate sanitary pads, they can contact me on 081 3976306/ 081 5554766."

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Republikein 2025-05-06

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