Engen has extended its support of the Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4Girls initiative that seeks to provide female learners with sanitary towels to help keep them in school during their monthly cycles, for a fourth year.

The campaign visited Khayelitsha in the Western Cape this week distributing hygiene hampers to 564 learners at Sizimisele Secondary School and 578 hampers to learners at Thembelihle Secondary School. 

Engen’s latest pledge of R1.5 million takes its total support over the past three years to R3.5 million, with approximately 24 065 female learners receiving support in the three years to date. 

The 2022 campaign will reach a further 14 000 female learners at 22 schools, across all nine South African provinces. 

Research shows that underprivileged girls miss up to 50 days of school per year due to inaccessible feminine hygiene care.  

“We cannot thrive as a society if some of our female learners are left behind because they are unable to attend school due to feminine hygiene issues, which is why we are proud to partner with the Imbumba Foundation and contribute to this meaningful initiative,” comments Engen Managing Director and CEO, Seelan Naidoo. 

Imbumba Foundation CEO, Richard Mabaso says the Caring4Girls programme creates a voice for girls in addition to distributing sanitary materials.  

“Caring4Girls also provides health education on puberty and adolescence, to demystify menstrual related myths and break down societal taboos, whilst promoting positive body literacy and autonomy, as well as gender equality.” 

Mabaso acknowledged Engen for its compassion for the young girls and thanked them for once again for making a generous contribution towards the initiative.   

Continues Mabaso: “Engen really is a brand that steps up where it matters and truly cares about the less fortunate.  

“We are extremely excited that Engen has once again agreed to partner with us because together we will touch and inspire many young girls’ lives.” 

As a long-time supporter of education and related social initiatives, Engen recognises that education remains a key enabler to help transform lives of those living in less fortunate circumstances. 

Adds Naidoo: “This is why Engen is so passionate about this initiative because it will help uplift and empower female learners. 

“By supporting these young girls, we will ensure that their dignity is retained and that they never have to miss school because of their monthly cycles.”   

As a company, Engen champions the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4 – Quality Education, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all; and SDG 5 – Gender Equality, which aims to end gender inequality through actions that eliminate discrimination that curtail women’s rights in both the private and public spheres. 

“Engen is keenly aware that access to quality education and gender equality is everybody’s business, and that it owes it to its employees, customers, and broader society to make every effort to drive positive change,” says Naidoo. 

Caring4Girls is endorsed by the Department of Basic Education.  The programme focuses on education and training on puberty and menstrual hygiene management, and includes the safe and environmentally responsible handling, usage and disposal of sanitary towels.