Steel, H & Js seek Knickers for Africa

GOING ALL OUT FOR UNDIES: Southern Steel players, from left, Adine Wilson, Sheryl Scanlan and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit ham it up for the camera during a photoshoot to promote the Knickers for Africa campaign.

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The Southern Steel netball team and an Invercargill retail store have come together to promote a Knickers for Africa campaign.

In Africa underwear is a basic item of clothing that is the main protection against violent sexual assault for young girls.

Steel shooter Daneka Wipiiti said the players were eager to offer their support in the hope it would save young girls from the trauma of abuse.

"Hopefully, in some small way, we can make a difference," Wipiiti said.

"It's only about a pair of knickers, something that we take for granted.

"To us it's just a pair of undies we put on every day, but over there that small act can have a huge impact."

The campaign will be officially launched on May 18, which will enable new underwear to be donated to Zimbabwe.

H & J Smith marketing officer Rebecca Sheppard said in Africa having underwear was a status symbol.

"The sad reality is you're less likely to be abused or raped if you're wearing underwear," Ms Sheppard said.

"A lot of families only have one pair of underwear to share between them."

Ms Sheppard said H & J Smith embraced the nationwide campaign when approached by the HOTmilk underwear brand to be involved and, when conducting her own research into the issue, found the statistics shocking.

H & J Smith is offering a 20 per cent discount to women buying three pairs of underwear during the campaign and would match any underwear donated to Knickers for Africa.

At Steel's game against Colourplus Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic at Stadium Southland on May 25, fans are encouraged to bring a new pair of underwear along to donate.

The Steel players were strong female role models, Ms Sheppard said.

"It's fantastic to have them involved and they're all so willing to say `yes, this is important to us'."