By Jonk wa Mashamba
Editor-in-Chief
news@alexreporter.co.za
During 16 Day of Activism against GBV 2021, Impilo Collection Foundation has collected 6,000 bras with the aim distribute them to communities across Gauteng this Friday, 11 March.
According to Angela Yeung, Founder of Impilo, this initiative will empower and uplift vulnerable girls and women.
Angela said the distribution will also benefit communities in the East, West and South of Johannesburg including Springbok Informal Settlement, Lofentse Girls High School, Kids Haven, Tembisa Women & Child Care and Florida Home.
Kicking off at the Children’s Memorial Institute in Parktown, homes to benefit from the first round of distribution includes FWC Welfare & Development Centre, Sunlight Safe House and Alex Feeding Scheme.
“While most of us feel empowered to rush home and rip our bras off or run errands braless, in many communities across our country an ill-fitting bra or a woman going braless is often seen as a sexual invitation.
“We desperately need to change this mindset, but also do what we can now to protect women,” says Angela.
Born out of the desperate need to help fellow South Africans struggling under the harsh conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic, Impilo has been fortunate to serve and learn from people in some of the country’s most socially and economically vulnerable communities.
In March this year, the Foundation distributed one ton of sanitary pads to schoolgirls in townships and rural communities around Gauteng.
Places that benefited are the Kids Haven Child and Youth Care Centre in Benoni and Bophelong Emilweni New Life Centre in Thembisa.
During the time of engagement with the young girls, women, educators, and volunteers at the centers, Impilo was alerted to the need for quality bras for the young girls and women, particularly those experiencing a changing body due to puberty.
“To me, a bra is not only something that provides physical support, but is also a symbol of the feminine spirit and strength.
“Hearing that some of the girls have experienced sexual harassment and abuse for not having access to a bra- something that most of us take for granted- was shocking to me, and I knew we had to do something,” says Angela.
She recalls an encounter with a Grade 12 learner at Kids Haven, Thando (not her real name) who expressed how the lack of a bra often becomes a reason for girls to not only get sexually assaulted and abused, but also shy away from the world and lose their confidence in the process.
“Sometimes the boys and men in our communities think we are asking for sexual attention just because the bra we wear does not fit properly or you are not wearing one because you cannot afford it.
“I have friends who have been sexually harassed and abused just for that,” Thando expressed.
After taking their pledge to commit to empowering girls and women in their own communities last year, Impilo social warriors handed over a memorandum to the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.
There are many unacceptable, but often overlooked social norms that continue to perpetuate Gender-based violence, in particular violence against women, one of the most pronounced expressions of gender inequality.
Jasmine Black, Youth Ambassador at Impilo added that there was medical evidence that a quality, properly fitting bra, has both mental and physical health benefits, especially for women with larger breasts that require more support.
“The foundation, through our other project, has also learnt for young girls and women some of the sexual harassment risks they face for wearing ill-fitting bras.
“What has been especially alarming for me is learning the number of young girls and women who often become victims of various forms of GBV including sexual harassment and rape simply because of a bra that does not fit properly!” exclaims Black.
Ntokozo Khumalo, Vice President of Public Relations at Impilo says the foundation has always been very intentional about serving the most vulnerable communities in South Africa.
“We invite all South African’s to join us for the distributions in the various regions of Johannesburg. Visit out our Facebook page for more information.
