About
Zakhele Re-Usable Sanitary Pad is a product that is 5% biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Each pad has a minimum life span of 5 years. The brand prioritises green manufacturing and is packaged using recyclable material, including a card made from growing paper.
Mission
The pads are manufactured in Nelspruit by a team of women, some of whom were recruited from GBV safe houses, and have been trained on how to manufacture the re-usuable sanitary towels.
The objective of this product is to alleviate the issues caused by period poverty such as low school attendance during a girl's menstrual cycle and to improve the unemployment rate in areas where there is a high unemployment rate among women. This is an effort to empower women by imparting marketable skills that can assist them in becoming independent entrepreneurs.
Vision
Millions of South African school girls face period poverty, lack access to sanitary products and enduring stigmas surrounding menstruation. Approximately seven million girls lack access to, or cannot afford feminine sanitary products, leading to an estimated 30% absence rate from school during their menstrual cycles.
The Zakhele Re-usable Pad is SABS-approved. Distribution amongst schools provides us with an opportunity to conduct workshops and educational sessions where we address issues around feminine hygiene, sexual health and career guidance.
The aim of the project is to ensure that girls and women can attend school and work, uninterrupted. Thus, increasing their ability to become economically active within society. The project has distributed more than 100,000 pads to girls and women across the country and hopes to increase that number.
