Church group helps Keetmans schoolgirls
Women from a church in Keetmanshoop on Saturday gave around 90 local schoolgirls 'dignity care packages' that include sanitary pads, soap, deodorant and Vaseline.
The Christian Women's Ministry of the Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk (VGK) organised the occasion to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Faith Zwartz, a nurse from the Keetmanshoop State Hospital, also spoke to the girls about breast examinations and the importance of health-seeking behaviour.
Saretta Mouton, who heads the local branch of the women's ministry under the church, said the women through the donation hoped to assist in upholding the dignity of children in the community.
Mouton, a teacher by profession, said many underprivileged girls often skip school during the days of their period due to a lack of sanitary pads.
“I firmly believe some girls also engage in relationships with older men because of the circumstances they find themselves in,” she said.
The girls who received the packages were identified by school life skills teachers.
The church also hosts a soup kitchen after every school day for about 300 learners from various schools in Keetmanshoop.
VGK minister, Dawid Mouton, said this is made possible through donations from individual anonymous sponsors.
“It is a faith issue and the duty of the church is to serve the community outside of Sunday church sessions,” he said.
“Every day the soup is served with bread and contains meat and vegetables freely provided by the sponsors,” Mouton said, adding that the sponsors are not from their church but rather from the community.
The church and the women's ministry plan to expand both initiatives to reach more vulnerable people, alongside other projects.
NAMPA
The Christian Women's Ministry of the Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk (VGK) organised the occasion to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Faith Zwartz, a nurse from the Keetmanshoop State Hospital, also spoke to the girls about breast examinations and the importance of health-seeking behaviour.
Saretta Mouton, who heads the local branch of the women's ministry under the church, said the women through the donation hoped to assist in upholding the dignity of children in the community.
Mouton, a teacher by profession, said many underprivileged girls often skip school during the days of their period due to a lack of sanitary pads.
“I firmly believe some girls also engage in relationships with older men because of the circumstances they find themselves in,” she said.
The girls who received the packages were identified by school life skills teachers.
The church also hosts a soup kitchen after every school day for about 300 learners from various schools in Keetmanshoop.
VGK minister, Dawid Mouton, said this is made possible through donations from individual anonymous sponsors.
“It is a faith issue and the duty of the church is to serve the community outside of Sunday church sessions,” he said.
“Every day the soup is served with bread and contains meat and vegetables freely provided by the sponsors,” Mouton said, adding that the sponsors are not from their church but rather from the community.
The church and the women's ministry plan to expand both initiatives to reach more vulnerable people, alongside other projects.
NAMPA
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