Mantle insights

Growing up, the early arrival of my period shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. I started menstruating in Grade 5, at just nine years  old,  barely old enough to grasp what was happening to my body, let alone manage it properly. It was a time when most of my peers were still playing with dolls and had no concept of menstruation. What is menstruation? Menstruation, also known as a period, is the vaginal bleeding that occurs when the lining of the uterus sheds after an egg is released but pregnancy does not occur. Back then, my period was heavy and unpredictable, a biological phenomenon I was completely unprepared for. I didn’t know pads came in different sizes or that “heavy flow” meant I needed something more absorbent. My uniform often bore the blot of my inexperience, a glaring red flag of my struggle.   Instead of receiving the grace and support I so desperately needed, I was met with discomfort, embarrassment, and, at times, judgment. My period blo...

  As I sit to write this, my heart is heavy with sorrow over the alarming and preventable deaths of young children in our communities. Recently, we have seen a tragic rise in cases of children falling ill or losing their lives after consuming unsafe food purchased from spaza shops, particularly those operated by Pakistani nationals. These incidents have devastated families and communities, sparking grief, anger, and a wave of concern about food safety and accountability. To witness innocent lives cut short in this manner is profoundly heartbreaking. Every child’s life is precious, and the idea that these deaths could have been avoided makes the pain even sharper. But while we demand justice and stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies, we must also take a moment to consider the larger context - the lives of those who run these shops and the circumstances that brought them here. The Tragedies: Stories That Shake Us All. Young children, excited about a snack or drink, fell ill ...

Welcome to my very first blog! I’m thrilled to start this journey and even more excited to dive into a topic that’s close to my heart. This week, I want to talk about something that impacts us all deeply: the role of women in leadership and why it's essential for more women to dare to step up and take the lead. Before diving in, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my loved ones. Thank you for supporting me through every step of this process—from the spark of an idea to the execution of this blog. And to everyone who helped me brainstorm and finally choose a name, your encouragement means the world. This blog is as much a result of your support as it is my own work. As someone who has taken on numerous leadership roles in my university years—as a departmental representative, chairperson of the debate society, secretary for UNICEF, deputy president for a book club, and class representative for two consecutive years—I have seen firsthand the importance of diverse voices in lea...