Last night’s netball match between the Southern Steel and the Bay of Plenty Magic saw not just netballs thrown around but knickers – with hundreds of undies being donated for an African campaign to prevent rape.
Amidst the netball action, fans piled under wear into boxes ready to be shipped off to Africa.
Rebecca Sheppard of H&J Smith says underwear is a status symbol in Africa.
“If you are wearing underwear you are less likely to be subjected to any sort of abuse in society,” she says.
Zimbabwean Morag Roy helped organise the appeal and says underwear really does prevent abuse.
“It means that they've got means, it’s a kind of social issue. It means this girl must be employed so we won't touch her,” says Ms Roy.
Auckland based lingerie company Hotmilk has already sent 10,000 pairs over to Africa.
Now Invercargill department stores H&J Smith, the Southern Steel Netballers and their fans have joined the campaign.
More than 400 pairs were collected at last night’s game and H&J Smith hope to have at least 2000 pairs to send to Harare by the end of the month.
Organisers say some African families only have one pair of underwear to share between them, so every pair – regardless the colour, style or size –will be greatly received.
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