A revolutionary new sanitary kit developed right here in Nelson Mandela Bay is set to lift young girls out of ‘period poverty’ and ensure that they do not have to miss out on critical days of schooling every month.
More than just another pad project, Sisterhood SA’s first-of-its-kind sustainable sanitary kit is washable and reusable, with a two-year product life cycle.
Local tech company Jendamark Automation provided the initial capital needed to get the manufacturing process underway and make Sisterhood SA director Shaan Keegan’s vision a reality.
To date, 360 trial kits have been produced and distributed to disadvantaged learners at three Gqeberha high schools as well as students at Nelson Mandela University.
Following the official launch of the kits, Keegan said there had been welcome interest from more companies looking to contribute through corporate social investment, while negotiations with a pharmaceutical giant had been finalised for the distribution of the product into 10 of the 15 SADC countries.
“None of this would have been possible without a local business like Jendamark believing in my vision and helping to get it off the ground,” said Keegan.
She said all exports would be channelled via Gqeberha to contribute to boosting the local economy and job creation. END