The Zambia Development Agency with support from Plan International Zambia and Sunda Industrial Zambia the manufacturers of baby diapers and other sanitary related products donated sanitary towels, a sanitary bin and hand washing facilities worth about K40, 000 to Hillcrest Community School in Kasengwa Ward of Chongwe District.
The donation is one of the Agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to contribute to the End Period Poverty campaign. Girls who experience period poverty are unable to purchase the menstrual products they need, and, in many cases, this means that they cannot go to school or otherwise participate in daily life activities. In addition, period poverty causes physical, mental, and emotional challenges.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of the items, ZDA Board Secretary Theresah Kampata who spoke on behalf of the Acting Director General stated that the Agency was keen to end period poverty among school going girls.
She stated that ZDA realises the importance of School adding that it is the best equalizer as always been emphasized by the Head of State President Hakainde Hichilema.
“We want to see more educated female investors, exporters and entrepreneurs that are going to contribute to wealth and employment creation in the country as well as ascending to leadership positions at various levels,” she said.
Meanwhile, Plan International Zambia Country Director James Pimundu said his organisation was happy to have contributed to the ending period poverty campaign.
Mr. Pimundu said Period Poverty had affected many rural school going girls causing them to drop out of school.
He added that Plan International Zambia is available to partner with other organisations to help school going children especially the girls.
And Sunda Industrial Zambia Manager Consumer Fast Moving Goods Vincent Kang said his company will continue to plough back in the community in order to alleviate the levels of poverty.
Further, Alice Sinkwaya who spoke on behalf of the learners expressed gratitude to the gesture by the three organisations.
She stated that the donation would go a long way in keeping girls in school adding that it was a challenge for most girls to access the sanitary towels which further impacted on their school attendance.
Hillcrest School was founded in 2002 and has over 250 learners at the moment. They have no infrastructure and are currently using a church building to deliver lessons to the learners.
The donation was made on Friday 11th March 2022 in Kasengwa Ward of Chongwe District.
