HMM partners with Imbumba Foundation to keep girls in school

Our Hotazel Manganese Mines (HMM) operation has partnered with Imbumba Foundation to help address period poverty for young girls in South Africa.

Menstruation is a barrier to education for many girls in developing countries, especially in socially and economically disadvantaged communities, and restricts their education opportunities and involvement in sports activities.

The team at HMM recently helped distribute almost 2000 care packs containing six months’ supply of sanitary pads to local schools, as part of our support for Imbumba Foundation’s Caring4Girls program.

The program was established to support the girls who are not able to attend school due to lack of access to adequate sanitary protection and reproductive health education. The initiative instils dignity, promotes positive body literacy and autonomy, as well as gender equality. 

South32 Geology Specialist, Palesa Boikanyo who helped volunteer on the day said: "We believe that our contribution through the Caring4Girls program will go a long way towards providing the necessary support for young women. The program helps young women avoid disruption to their schooling during the monthly cycles and improve their academic performance and have access to better opportunities for tertiary education, employment, and social and economic advancement in life.”

Through the five-year partnership, we have provided sanitary pads and health education to rural settlement and township schools across South Africa. Learn more about how we make a difference in the communities in which we operate, in our  2022 Sustainability Report.