BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
The lack of adequate resources for young girls who menstruate is a growing problem in South Africa, often, little girls have no choice but to skip school for a whole week every month because they don’t have pads, tampons and pantyliners for when their monthly menstrual cycle comes.
A Kwa-Zulu Natal man who goes by Malume wabashana (an uncle to the children) on Tik Tok works closely with children as he transports them to and from school every day, and his generous heart could not let this keep happening while he sat and did nothing.
READ MORE: “Minister of Menstruation”, Candice Chirwa on plans to help decrease period poverty
So, uMalume regularly buys pads in bulk and hands them out to all his little “nieces” so they no longer have to miss school because of this unfair disadvantage. In his videos on the social media platform, the man seems to have a good, fun relationship with all the children he drives – he makes sure they always have their safety belts on, plays them music they enjoy, and the children all seem to love him.
Although some men have expressed their discomfort with a man giving young girls pads, popular menstruation activist and “Minister of Menstruation”, Candice Chirwa gave uMalume wabashane a nod – commending him for his good work and big heart.
“I feel that having MENstrual allies means that men actively need to be involved in ending period poverty. If he’s a male teacher helping to ensure girl children have access to a necessity item, then I’m glad he’s setting the tone that men can be involved,” she wrote on Twitter.
The Fuse – Stories from South Africa also commends the KZN man for his inspiring decision to help, and not pay attention to stereotypes.
