Two generations of a Bermudian family have found inspiration in rural South Africa through one man’s quest to empower others.

Richard Mabaso was a young man when he got sponsorship to leave and study in London, Ontario, and in the process staying with the Vickers family.

“Richard was spotted as an opportunity to help others help themselves,” explained Jane Vickers, whose daughter Erin is now in South Africa with Mr Mabaso’s humanitarian foundation.

Enthralled by the stories of African life, Erin kept in contact with her friend over the 13 years since his time in their home, and leapt at the chance to pitch in.

Freshly qualified as a lawyer, she is spending six weeks of her leave time in South Africa.

“Richard’s story has shown that even one person taking action can have a knock-on effect on so many lives,” Ms Vickers told The Royal Gazette.

Witnessing that grassroots impact first hand has been “humbling and really inspiring” as she works with her old friend on an initiative for underprivileged young women, primarily in rural communities, dubbed Caring4Girls.

Mr Mabaso hails from Luphisi, a village that is now home to some 3,000 people, and Caring4Girls addresses an issue with profound ramifications in the bid to build stronger communities there and across the country: the stigma surrounding menstruation.

Mr Mabaso noticed the extent of the problem via his niece from Luphisi when she got her first period. Since the subject was taboo, she “had no idea what was happening to her — the whole topic was hushed up and not discussed”, Ms Vickers said.

Lacking any access to feminine hygiene, many South African girls resort to using rags for menstruation, and can end up missing up to 50 school days a year — an untenable loss where education is key to breaking free of poverty.

The starting premise of Mr Mabado’s programme is to offer menstrual hygiene training, and a minimum one-year supply of sanitary towels, but it also enlists major South African personalities such as TV presenters and the current Miss South Africa to visit rural schools, encouraging girls to stay in school, and boosting their aspirations.

“The core philosophy of the programme centres around the importance of education, as Richard strongly believes that the best way to help the underprivileged in South Africa is to help them help themselves,” Ms Vickers said.

“By building confident, self-respecting, educated young women, Richard believes that not only will these women better support themselves and their families, but that they will be able to build a better South Africa for the future.”

Today, it supports 250,000 young women across South Africa. Mr Mabaso’s goal is to reach 2 million girls by 2020 — and outside support is vital: about $2.15 a month can support one girl.

Ms Vickers, who helps in the field with distribution as well as creating a database online to track every girl being supported, added that schools abroad, including in Bermuda, can join by twinning with a South African school.

The Vickers family link began in Canada, where the company Express Services started humanitarian work in South Africa by building a school in Luphesi. Erin’s mother worked for the company, and the family joined in with further projects — ultimately leading them to host Mr Mabaso, who took his further education from Canada back home for a lifetime of giving back.

He started Imbumba Foundation in 2012. Prior to that, he worked for a private game reserve lodge and later a conservation trust to earn money to support his family and send his younger siblings to university. Mr Mabato’s commitment to inspire village communities to take charge of their own advancement has proven nothing short of “amazing”, Ms Vickers said.

“Hopefully, it will encourage people to support South Africa in a meaningful and transparent way where they can see exactly how their support impacts young girls here.”

• To learn more about supporting the Foundation, e-mail Mr Mabaso at richard@imbumbafoundation.org — or to contribute via PayPal, see: www.imbumbafoundation.org/donate