Hailing from the small village of Nqamakwe, in the Eastern Cape, Andiswa Sigadla knows all too well the inconvenience, shame and disruption caused by not being able to afford sanitary hygiene products.
She is on a determined mission to prevent the lack of hygiene products from negatively impacting the lives of other young people.
“Coming from a big family of six, raised by a single mother who worked as a domestic worker, I know how it feels not to have sanitary pads at school. I would make use of clothes cut off from my old clothes and would miss school for days because of that, and it affected by education very badly,” Ms Sigadla shares.
Spurred on by her own childhood experiences she started an initiative, the Donate with Andy Campaign.
The campaign collects and distributes sanitary and hygiene products to young people and Ms Sigadla now needs the community buy-in.
The first handout of sanitary products was done on Tuesday February 14, at the Christmas Tinto Primary School in Asanda Village, Strand, where she now lives because “charity begins at home”.
“The demand for pads is high, so for now it’s a matter of selling the idea to the community and to continue donating pads to schools and praying for sponsors to intervene, because for now, I’m donating from my pocket so it’s very difficult.”
She donated 200 sanitary packs and 120 hygiene packs.
“The learners were so happy and appreciative with smiles that really touched me.”
Bolekwa Malangeni educator at the school, thanked Ms Sigadla and her team for the donation.
“The children were so happy, excited, and glad to get the sanitary pads and toiletries. She did not only donate pads, but she had some speakers who came to motivate our children and gave them tips on how to live life.
“We as a school are very happy, as it’s our first time receiving these items as a donation. We are looking forward to working with her again, ” Ms Malangeni said.
Ms Sigadla plans to firstly target local schools in the Helderberg, with Lwandle community next, and then move on to other schools in underprivileged communities.
“The main focus is to keep these girls in school and restore their dignity by donating pads to the whole Western Cape,” she explains.
Read more on her Facebook Page, Donate with Andy. She can arrange to come and collect or organise drop-off points. Those interested in donating can contact her on 063 217 9019 or at sigadlaandiswa@gmail.com
