The programme was started in 2012 after Imbumba founder, Richard Mabaso, overhead a fearful conversation between his mom and niece about menstruation, which to this day is deemed taboo by many societies. Realising that this fear and lack of understanding existed, even within his own family, Richard initiated the Caring4Girls programme to address the problem on a national scale.
Caring4Girls, has over the last decade, taken a three-prong programmatic approach to supporting girls:
At present, the Foundation supports over 2 million Caring4Girls beneficiaries throughout South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini and Tanzania. Through the establishment of innovative associated programmes, such as the annual Trek4Mandela Expedition to summit Mount Kilimanjaro on Mandela Day - 18 July and Women’s Day – 09 August, the Caring4Girls Programme has been sustained and grown exponentially.
We would also like to give acknowledgement to the Dischem Million Comforts campaign and our brand match partners for helping us to collect 10,000,000 pads per annum towards our Caring4Girls programme. Their support has been paramount to us empowering as many indigent girls communities through our various initiatives. We have reached a significant milestone. 12 years ago, the Imbumba Foundation was started on the premise of empowering communities through our various initiatives. A decade later, we find ourselves in a position of locally producing our very own Caring4Girls branded sanitary towels. It has been through the support of all our sponsors and partners that we have found an additional avenue to ensure the sustainability of the initiative and empower more girl children.
By launching our own range of pads, we can purchase more pads for less, thereby allowing us to purchase 3 times the number of pads we did in the past. Our brand then becomes an agent for change by having a positive impact on women’s lives, as well as giving generously in the process. It is imperative that as an organisation we remain relevant and sustainable for the sake of the girls who rely on us every day.
