I am currently taking a sabbatical and volunteering on a charity project working with Global Vision International in South Africa. At the moment, we are at a base in Hoedspruit for two weeks and then I shall be moving on to another project in Cape Town for four weeks.

It is an amazing experience but I have been moved by just how little some people have here. On one of the visits to a local school, it was amazing to be met by so many happy and enthusiastic children, 60 to a class!

What has moved me to act here though, is something we all take for granted: girls and women here in the townships are unable to afford basic feminine sanitary products. So I intend to do what I can to help whilst I am here and see where it goes. A pack of sanitary towels costs around 200 Rand, that's about £1.15, which in London is less than the price of a cup of coffee!

So, please can I ask you to give whatever you can and I will buy and distribute to as many girls and young women as I am able whilst I am here. If donations continue to come in after I leave, I will make arrangements with GVI to ensure these basic necessities continue to find there way to local young women.

Thank you

Lisa