Sipiwo Matshoba is the Chief Director of Social Empowerment and Participation for South Africa’s Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. He is fiercely committed to the pursuit of about gender equity and women’s empowerment - with a special passion for helping girls stay in school and go on to become productive members of society (without menstruation getting in the way). He has worked for the South African government for more than 25 years, and is currently focused on developing the Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework, which ensures access to menstrual health products for underserved women and girls.In this episode, Sipiwo talks to us about his work with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, his thoughts on gender inequality and its implications for society at large, what it was like to launch the South African Coalition for Menstrual Health and Hygiene during COVID-19 – and even shares his experience meeting Nelson Mandela as a college student!Notable Quotes“The most important thing is the notion of human empowerment and gender equality…how you can never achieve democracy and an ethical society without the affirmation of woman, first and foremost”“Women give birth to us, as human beings. And it makes no sense, it's absolutely ridiculous, to think that [they] can just be deemed inferior, or could not be able to access specific privileges. Because of patriarchy, culture, religion, and all the prejudices that are there in society.”Highlights:How Sipiwo’s work as a policymaker has evolved since starting with the South African government in 1994, right after the nation gained its independenceWhat fuels his passion for menstrual health management and reproductive health issues – and why everyone should care about women’s empowerment What this work has taught him about the driving sociopolitical factors behind gender inequity and period poverty – including prejudice, patriarchy, and the lack menstruator-friendly WASH infrastructuresThe importance of helping girls stay in school, achieve their full potential and go on to become an active contributing members of society, regardless of menstruationHow unequal educational barriers for girls and boys go on to shape the structure of the economy and society as a wholeSipiwo’s experience meeting Nelson Mandela as a college studentThe significance of launching the South African Coalition for Menstrual Health and Hygiene in 2020 – and how the coalition overcame pandemic-related challenges to make a difference in its first yearWhy it’s important for government and civil society (as well as different NGOs and research orgs) to work together and collaborate for optimal impactConnect:Email: sipiwo.matshoba@gmail.gov.zaLinkedIn: Sipiwo MatshobaWebsite: http://www.women.gov.za/Facebook: Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Twitter: @DWYPD_ZA Bio: Sipiwo Matshoba is the Chief Director of Social Empowerment and Participation for South Africa’s Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (SADWYPD). He has a Master’s Degree in Philosophy and Ethics from the University of Johannesburg and has been working the South African government for over 25 years.  Support the showPlease support us at daysforgirls.org