A programme aimed at supporting young girls in rural schools in the Eastern Cape has received a R70 000 boost through the annual Algoa Cares Charity Golf Day in East London, that was held in September 2015.
The money was formally handed over to Ngwadi Mzamo, Programme Director of Siyakholwa Development Foundation in East London on Friday, February 12.
It will be used to support the foundation’s “Bright Future Programme,” which aims to reduce absenteeism and school dropout rates among teenage girls.
According to Greg Eland, training and fundraising manager of the Siyakholwa Development Foundation, girls are forced to stay at home when menstruating for a variety of reasons, which include lack of sanitary pads, inadequate toilet infrastructure at the schools, and the absence of a parent and teacher support system.
Bright Futures is presented over 20 sessions starting with six Protecting Futures modules, followed by a 14 week Give Yourself a Job Programme.
Protecting Futures teaches girls about puberty, menstruation, intimate relationships, preventing teenage pregnancy, parent-daughter communication, HIV/AIDS and the importance of thinking about the future.
This programme is followed by the 14 week “Give Yourself A job” programme, during which the young people are mentored on perceiving a vision of the future and develop skills, confidence and knowledge to find or create their own jobs in the local economy.
Funds raised at the golf day will go towards providing transport and module guides for the programme, “with the aim for these students to pay forward their new-found knowledge by educating and empowering future generations,” says Jennilee Peremore, public relations and corporate social investment manager at Algoa FM.
The next Algoa Cares Charity Golf Day will take place in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, 28 April 2016 at the PE Golf Club. The date for this year’s golf day in East London is still being finalised.
