A Simon’s Town-based non-profit is helping to create awareness for a charity collecting panties for girls in less fortunate communities.
To date, Third Thursday False Bay has collected more than 800 panties for Panties for Africa, which aims to end “underwear poverty”.
Third Thursday South Africa was founded 20 years ago by Helen Pounara in Johannesburg.
Ms Pounara wanted to do something outside her role as wife, mother, and employee that would give back to the community.
She invited like-minded women to meet every third Thursday of the month to use their networks and resources to help those less fortunate within their communities.
Her vision inspired Belinda Goddard, of Simon’s Town, to establish the Third Thursday False Bay chapter.
Ms Goddard said the group consists of seven women who are all volunteers.
“They thrive on collaboration and connection and don’t mind getting their hands dirty. They are all committed to making a difference within their communities,” she said.
Their first project, she said, was reopening the library at the Simon’s Town School which had become a forgotten space during Covid.
“The Third Thursday ladies got stuck in, cleaned, and tidied the library and it has once again become a welcoming space for all the learners,” she said.
Simon’s Town School principal Lucresia Harrison said the revamp of the library had provided pupils with the opportunity and space to do research for projects, get study material and strengthen their reading skills.
“We are very grateful to Third Thursday False Bay for their dedication and support,” she said.
Earlier this year, the chapter took on its second project – creating awareness for Panties for Africa with a networking “breakfast with a purpose” at a Simon’s Town hotel.
Panties for Africa was founded by Simon’s Town designer and entrepreneur Tariro Ngwerume, originally from Zimbabwe.
She was from a poor family and attended school without wearing underwear.
“It affected my confidence growing up, and it was not just me, it was a lot of kids who had the same problem,” she said.
She said she could not participate in sports activities and was too embarrassed to tell the teachers, which resulted in detention.
She started Panties for Africa during lockdown when she had more time on her hands.
She and her sister made about 600 pairs of panties, which were handed out to an orphanage in Zimbabwe as she thought that it was “a Zimbabwean problem”.
However, after starting a Facebook page, Ms Ngwerume realised that there was a massive need in the far south and in South Africa – hence the name Panties for Africa.
Since its inception, Panties for Africa has handed out thousands of packets of underwear to children in rural areas in South Africa, she said.
“When Third Thursday False Bay came onboard, I was like, ‘oh my God’, I can’t believe this dream is becoming a reality,” she said, adding that it was amazing to see the broad smiles a packet of panties could put on a child’s face.
Ms Goddard said packets of panties for ages 2 to 15 could be dropped off at Simon’s Town Museum. For more information, visit Panties for Africa on Facebook.
