By Selenathi Botha
“Love is patient, love is kind.”
On 14 February, Valentine’s Day, at Noluthando Hall, with an opening prayer, Rev Lithemba Busakwe emphasised love and showing love, especially as it connects one to God.
To show love to their fellow female classmates, boys from different schools in Makhanda, including Khutliso Daniels Secondary School, T.E.M Mrwetyana Secondary School and Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School, were invited to participate in the Sophumelela Youth Development Programme, to get educated on how to protect the dignity of a female learner during her menstrual cycle. The learners were also given toiletries during the event.
At the event were guests, including Mhlobo Wenene radio presenter Mafa Bavuma, members from the Department of Health as well as Rhodes Music Radio (RMR) Station head, Unathi Koboka.
One of the event organisers, Lusanda Pini, welcomed the guests, while Luthando Mpofu, told guests about the event’s purpose.
”The reason that we are here today is to educate boys about girls, teach them how to love in school and not make fun of girls who got their periods at school without them knowing. And to also teach girls about boys to not make fun of them when they are sweaty and have smelly armpits,” said Mpofu.
Khanyisa Xhotyeni and Babe Manyathi, from the Department of Health, explained the menstrual cycle. ”Menstruation is natural for the ladies and girls.”
They duo explained why the cycle and the different stages were essential. They encouraged girls to use contraceptives if they were sexually active or, even better, abstain until they were done with school and were married.
The speakers also encouraged the children to speak freely and openly to their parents, especially if there were changes to their bodies. They also highlighted the changes boys experienced with their bodies as they grew older. The changes may include excessive sweating, which may lead to smelly armpits, which is nothing to be ashamed of, they added.
Koboka also shared her first time experiencing a menstrual cycle and that she was grateful to have such programmes that educated people. She also encouraged people to contact the radio station regarding community issues and programmes.
During his speech, Bavuma motivated the children to dream big and to be disciplined. He pleaded with the youth, especially males, to respect the females so that the new generation could continue to do so. Bavuma also pleaded with the female children not to drink alcohol so that they would not be vulnerable. He added that males should not be embarrassed to go to the shops to buy sanitary towels for females.
Sophumelela Ketelo, the programme’s founder, handed male learners sanitary towels to give to the girls to show support to the female learners, be comfortable, and understand that the cycle is a natural process.
Ketelo closed the event with a comment: “The menstrual education session was a success; male learners were educated about menstruation. We have experienced males not comfortable holding sanitary towels, but in the end, we saw them moving towards the girls in the form of proposing; they were also given hugs; it was just a joyous session.”
He added, ”We hope and pray they truly understand [how]to protect the girls. This goes beyond the exchange of sanitary towels; it talks about gender-based violence, the increase of HIV and Aids, and it also talks about teenage pregnancy. We have done that, but the programme had a lot to achieve, and we believe and hope that we have achieved it.”
