SHARING NEWS -- Kenya, Cambodia, Uganda, India, Mozambique, Eugene/Springfield

[I apologize in advance for the wonkiness of this post.  Pasting in the article about Uganda did not make this blog program happy, so it developed a mind of its own.  It's taken me too much time to get it just this cleaned up.  I did not ask it for the red-colored font here and there.  It won't go away.  I think I've removed the photos that were showing on top of text.]

FABRIC

The lovely fabrics we use for the bags and shields always bring a smile to my face.  Here are some of the shields that recently received snaps.  Can't you just imagine the delight a girl will feel when opening her kit for the first time? 

AND SPEAKING OF FIRST TIMES AND SMILES 

These Cambodian girls have just received kits.  I love the expressions on their faces!  As I cut, as I sew, as I buy supplies, as we assemble kits, I'm hoping these gifts will bring that joy to every recipient. 

AUGUST 4th WORKDAY

We had a nice turnout for a hot August day.  We accomplished some of everything--cutting, pressing, pinning, serging, sewing, undie sorting, snapping, etc., and a bunch of pocket prep for the shields.  Sometime in the afternoon, I remembered to take photos--so here's a portion of our work crew.

A TREMENDOUS HEARTFELT THANK YOU to all of our volunteers, our donors, those of you who support us in so many ways.  You make it possible for our kits and education to reach so many girls and change their lives AND that of their descendants!

SUPPLIES FOR NAIROBI ENTERPRISE

In July, Linda went on a safari in Kenya,  and was able to take nearly 50 pounds of supplies to Christine, who heads up the Days for Girls Enterprise in Nairobi, Kenya.

Here's a 2017 Days for Girls video featuring Christine on YouTube.  She explains a bit of what life is like for girls in Kenya.

TAX THEM?

We all agree that women worldwide need access to affordable supplies to manage their periods.  That should mean they're not being taxed for these necessities.

Here's an article from Australia.

PEACE CORPS

Here's a great article by a Peace Corps volunteer who distributed kits in Mozambique.

DISTRIBUTING KITS IN UGANDA

July 30, 2018

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When I was selected as one of nine participants from my company’s (Classy) fundraising challenge, I could barely contain my excitement to meet the Days for Girl team in Uganda and see them in action. Although I knew menstrual health and access to sanitary pads was an issue for women and girls, I did not realize the magnitude of the problem.

It was not until I had sat and listened to girls talk about their lack of access to clean water and menstrual supplies, the embarrassment and shame they felt around their period, and the many days of school they missed as a result, that the need truly sunk in.

During my time in Uganda, we had the opportunity to visit a school in the Central Region of Luwero, just north of Days for Girls’ headquarters in Kampala. Seeing the shining faces of these young girls, anxious to learn and grow, was as awakening as it was inspiring. With their whole lives ahead of them, they craved nothing more than opportunity, in every sense of the word.

Days for Girls staff member and their amazing trainer, Shefar Kaita, began the informational session by conducting a quick exercise with the girls. “Girls,” she began, “we’ll begin by all closing our eyes.” This simple instruction ensured that no girl would be judged or shamed for her response to the questions that were soon to come. Shefar continued by taking a poll of the following questions:

• Do you have access to clean water, do you currently experience menstruation?
• Are you embarrassed to talk about menstruation?
• Do you have adequate supplies during menstruation?
• Are you comfortable during menstruation?
• Have you missed school because of menstruation?

Their answers were overwhelming; I could feel the warmth of a light turning on in my head and heart, grateful to be part of a practical solution.

These girls, longing nothing more than to learn and grow and better themselves, were at times quite literally unable to do just that because of a natural bodily function. Their days have been taken from them, unfairly and inexplicably. But Shefar explained to each wide eye student, that there was a solution.

One by one, these girls aging from roughly 9-15 came up and curtsied as they were given a kit, from our hands to theirs. This exchange represented so much more than a basic transaction; it represented a message and a movement—one that said ‘you matter; your dignity matters; your education matters; and we are here to stand beside you and ensure that you have the tools to keep moving forward.’

I’ve found throughout my time spent traveling with Days for Girls that each individual has a story to tell. It takes a village to change social perception; to change the way we think, the way we feel. Without women, there would be no life. Period. Yet without an outlet to tell their stories and to learn of their struggles, there is no way to find a solution. The woman who trekked three hours down a dirt road in the middle of the night to dispose of her menstrual pads is now a member of Days for Girls’ entrepreneurial program. The young girls that learned to sew these kits are now distributing them somewhere, changing lives for years to come, in a world far away that still somehow feels close to home. While the train of life stops for no one, it’s moments like these where the engine seems to slow down. It is our duty not only as a volunteer or a traveler, but a human being to live with purpose. The incredible individuals I met with Days for Girls will remain a part of me for the rest of my life, serving as a daily reminder of the importance to continue empowering
Every Girl.Everywhere. Period.

Emily Binkowski works as an Enterprise Development Representative at Classy