In celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2021, Uzwela Foundation visited the John Wesley Children’s Home to donate special Blessing Bags to the young ladies currently living in the home.

The John Wesley Children’s Home is a home away from home for girls aged 12 – 18 who have been neglected, abused, or abandoned and deemed in need of care by the Court.  The home currently accommodates 13 teenage girls, all of whom attend schools in the area. The home acts as a parental home that also assists the girls with comprehensive parental support that includes psychological, spiritual and physical development.

We gave each girl a Blessing Bag containing enough feminine hygiene products for an entire year (we literally emptied the shelves at a local wholesaler) and general toiletries, including a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, loofah and tissue pack. These are the most basic toiletries, but for the girls at John Wesley Children’s Home, they are luxury items.

In a country where half the population is living below the poverty line, it is estimated that about 3.7 million girls are unable to afford feminine hygiene products.  30% of South African girls do not attend school when they are menstruating – this means that a girl can lose up to 60 school days per year.

We are incredibly grateful to our donors, who made it possible for us to give back dignity to 13 young ladies.  We will be revisiting the home very soon with more toiletries, treats and stationery.