12 May 2025 | Story: Staff Reporter | Photo: Supplied.
2 minutes read time.
On 17 April 2025, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), through the Community Engagement department and in collaboration with the Institutional HIV and AIDS Unit (IHAU), made a meaningful donation to female matric students at Lekoa Shandu High School in Sharpeville.
A total of 130 sanitary towels were donated as part of an ongoing initiative to support and empower young women in the community. This effort seeks to ease some of the challenges that female learners face during their critical final year of secondary education.
The gesture forms part of the university’s continued commitment to its relationship with Lekoa Shandu High School, a previously adopted school with which VUT has maintained a strong partnership over the years. By providing essential sanitary products, the university is helping to ensure that students can continue their education with dignity and without interruption.
Ms Msizi Nyembe, Project Coordinator at VUT French Southern African Schneider Electric Centre (FSASEC) and FET representative, explained, “This is not just about giving out sanitary towels, it is about showing our students that we care about their well-being and their future success. We want to help eliminate any obstacles that may prevent them from reaching their full potential.”
The ongoing collaboration between FET, Community Engagement and IHAU remains focused on empowering both learners and the wider Sharpeville community. As the university strengthens these partnerships, initiatives such as this one are vital in supporting students to focus on their studies without the added burden of unmet personal health needs.
Through simple but impactful acts of kindness, the VUT community continues to demonstrate its commitment to making a lasting difference in the lives of students and those around them.
