Phindile Kasodi Mkhungo accepts a donation of sanitary pads from Nkululeko Mvuyana
Story by Asnath Morethe
A Durban-based finalist in the Mr and Miss Albinism pageant is distributing sanitary pads in the schools in her community as part of her community service.
Phindile Kasodi Mkhungo (33) has been receiving donations of pads from friends and people in her community to help disadvantaged girls ever since she was selected as a finalist of the pageant in September 2020.
The most recent donation of 50 packs of pads came from Nkululeko Mvuyana. Mkhungo told ThisAbility that she planned to donate the pads to Duduzani Primary School in Ntuzuma, in Durban North.
She is relying on the school to distribute the pads to deserving learners.
Businessman and founder of Mr and Miss Lifestyle Mvuyana says he helped Mkhungo because he believes in “empowering young people and also making sure that young girls are hygienically clean at all times, especially under the covid-19 pandemic”.
Godfrey Mphatswe, the founder of the Mr and Miss Albinism SA pageant, said that the pageant is to show uninformed people that people with albinism have skills and that they can become anyone and anything in life.
“We want them to work with the community and incorporate them to the mainstream, to even become mentors. They will dedicate their time to serving South Africa through charity work, youth empowerment initiatives and other incredible acts of kindness.”
For Mkhungo, giving back to the community is not a new thing she only started because of the pageant. The co-owner of Umvini Performing Arts has been targeting young girls and boys in her community and teaching them about albinism, while playing around with modelling and music.
“I believe that young boys and girls need to be taught about albinism at an early age to prevent them from teasing people with albinism when they see them.
She says she is grateful to the pageant for giving her the opportunity to make a difference in communities as part of her modelling journey.
“It is challenging to go out there and tell people what you do but, on the other hand, it is a good thing to be known as someone who can make a change in the community. It is quite exciting to me actually, I love giving back to the community,” she said.
Mkhungo, who is also a musician and dancer, started her modelling career in 2016. She won a special award at the Umhlanga Festival pageant in 2019 and was crowned Miss Spotlight KZN in 2020.
The Mr and Miss Albinism pageant final will be held on October 30, 2021, at Mogale City Centenary Hall.
