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Great Expectations, a dedicated maternity transition coaching company based in Cape Town, has embarked on a project to help the girls of South Africa to stay in school by raising funds for SUBZ washable reusable sanitary panty and pad packs for them throught the Non-Profit Organisation Project Dignity Trust.

Statistics show that of the 4,713,143 girls of menstruation age enrolled in school in South Africa, 3,770,514 girls are potentially unable to buy sanitary pads while menstruating and miss school because they don't have access to sanitary products or have to suffer through it because they have to resort to other undignified and impractical measures! This is a cause that is very close to our heart at Great Expectations because of the impact an education can have on a young woman's future.

We want to help change that by raising funds for Project Dignity, a South African organisation started by Sue Barnes in 2011. This registered NPO supplies washable, re-usable sanitary panty and pad sets called SUBZ to girls together with an educational talk on puberty.

One pack costs R220 and can last a girl for up to 5 years. The target of R11 000 will provide 50 girls with packs. We are aiming to achieve this by the start of the 2017 school year in January. To date over 40 000 packs have been distributed around South Africa, but the need is huge.

Ultimately Project Dignity aims to keep the girls of South Africa in school by affording them access to sanitary wear and thereby decreasing absenteeism. The importance of girls' education in creating social change is indisputable - we know that when girls' education is enhanced it improves not only their chances of a better life, but also has a positive ripple effect on the lives of any children they might have in the future. The high school dropout rates are closely linked to the teen pregnancy statistics which in turn affects a young woman's ability to create a better life for herself and her family. 

This is a project that is creating small but deeply meaningful change, and is starting to recieve international recognition as illustrated in these awards:

• Greenovation Award - Winner Social Impact; 2015
• Margaret Hirsch Women of the Year - Finalist; 2015
• Chivas Regal Venture Campaign Innovation Award - Finalist; 2015
• SAB Foundation Social Innovation Award - Finalist; 2015
• Business Woman's Association - Finalist Social Entrepreneur; 2015
• The Accenture Innovation Index - Top Innovation Concept; 2014
• Clarins Most Dynamic Woman; 2013/14

Please visit our website at www.maternitycoaching.co.za to find out more about who we are and what we do.

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