Blossom Care Solutions is a mission-driven social enterprise established to address the lack of access to sanitary pads and promote menstrual health.

The Gugulethu site is the second site Concentrix + Webhelp has supported, following the successful launch of the Blossom factory in Sandton, Johannesburg in 2021.

According to Concentrix + Webhelp and Blossom, with the assistance of stakeholders, the Blossom site in Alex has donated more than 300 000 sanitary pads to schools to date, ensuring no school time or sports are missed because of menstruation. A further 48 816 sanitary pads were donated to:
  • NGOs
  • private companies, and
  • menstrual initiatives, extending the impactful work being done.

Shamiela Sarlie, managing director at Blossom Care Solutions, says, "The financial inability to afford sanitary products, combined with a lack of knowledge about menstruation, constitutes period poverty. This issue impacts millions of young girls and women in South Africa daily. However, there are avenues to combat this social challenge while simultaneously contributing to job creation."

In partnership with Concentrix + Webhelp, Blossom inaugurated a new facility at the Safe-Hub. This was in partnership with Adidas in Gugulethu on Wednesday, 25 October.

The partners say that Safe-Hub and Adidas are actively working towards a more equitable world by enhancing young people's access to opportunities and services in structurally disadvantaged areas. Each hub offers a collaborative network of local partners and experts, providing users with support in:
  • education
  • health
  • recreation
  • employability, and
  • entrepreneurship.

This makes it an ideal location for a Blossom site.

Blossom says that it will employ women from the community who were previously unemployed, all while providing menstrual education and sanitary products to girls in need. The business will also focus on manufacturing, selling, marketing and distributing sanitary pads and other personal care products to local community-based retailers to help build strong revenue streams that will support and sustain each business.

"Unemployment remains a critical issue in South Africa. As Concentrix + Webhelp continues to support initiatives that drive meaningful change and build sustainable futures, it was only natural for us to explore ways to further bolster Blossom's efforts," says Cathy Kalamaras, people director of South Africa and projects at Concentrix + Webhelp.

Kalamaras adds, "When Concentrix + Webhelp observes the number of young girls and women in our more disadvantaged communities who do not have regular access to sanitary pads, and when we consider additional ways to address the unemployment situation, the work of Blossom Care becomes even more crucial."

Kalamaras adds that Blossom Care takes a women-centric approach to tackling period poverty in the heart of communities needing it most.

"It is estimated that young girls in South Africa miss up to a third of their school year due to a lack of proper menstrual education and hygiene support, putting them at risk of joining the ranks of the unemployed," Kalamaras says.

"As a business, we feel it is our duty to ensure no woman is left behind or excluded because of something beyond her control. The work done by Blossom Care helps young women achieve their potential unhindered, while also creating valuable jobs in the process. These are sustainable solutions we support," Kalamaras concludes.

For more information, visit www.webhelp.com and www.blosssomcare.co.za.