Salisbury Soroptimists collecting bras for African women
Pink baskets appear around Salisbury to gather donations
Salisbury Soroptimists is calling for women in South Wiltshire to donate new or gently used bra's to aid women in Africa by providing them with garments that they would otherwise find difficult to afford.
Throughout May and June, pink baskets will be placed across Salisbury to collect gently used or new bras as part of the charity's annual bra collection.
The collection points include Five Rivers Leisure Centre, Salisbury Library, Salisbury Playhouse, and Salisbury Hospital.
At their recent AGM, the Soroptimists welcomed Jeanette Kruger, founder of the Zabra-Afreebra initiative, who shared the story behind the project.
Jeanette's journey began when she realised that donated bras often ended up in fabric recovery sites rather than being repurposed.
As a South African, she was acutely aware of the struggles faced by many women on the continent, who must prioritise basic necessities over clothing.
On returning to South Africa, Jeanette found willing recipients for her spare bras, which were met with immense gratitude.
Jeanette shared how village women expressed their delight by cleaning her house, a gesture of appreciation for their newfound gift.
She continued to encourage donations, finding support from friends, relatives, and even businessmen willing to act as "bra mules" during their travels.
Working with charities like the Rural Smile Foundation in Ghana, the initiative has distributed thousands of bras gathered from the UK, including Salisbury.
Despite its small scale, the project has made a significant impact, transforming the lives of countless women.
Locals are invited to contribute bras they no longer need and support storage costs by donating to the Just Giving page “Zabra – Afreebra Initiative” or helping Salisbury Soroptimists with transport expenses.
For the women receiving these gifts, the gesture is invaluable, and appreciation is heartfelt.