OCTOBER 11 -- INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL

WHY IS IT CALLED "DAYS FOR GIRLS?"

Saturday at the Emerald Valley Quilters' quilt show, I had the opportunity to tell many people about Days for Girls and our local chapter.  One woman I spoke with for  a while advised me that my information booth/table really didn't give an idea of what "Days for Girls" is all about.  You can see that I had official posters here and there with my limited wall display space, but none of them gave a concise explanation.  I'll work on that.  While some people just glanced in the direction and then wandered on, most got close enough that I could ask them if they'd heard of Days for Girls and start a conversation.

I was delighted with the number of people who were interested in volunteering or donating fabric or funds.  Two people said they travel and would be willing to check a suitcase for us.  Over 20 people signed up to receive DFG emails.   Many people donated cash and a couple of vendors found a few pieces of stain-busting fabric that would work well, which they donated.

But, have you ever thought about the name of the organization?  Why is it called "Days for Girls?"  It's because when we give a girl a kit, we're giving her back 60 days a year to fully participate  in life.  When you do some math with those numbers, it's inspiring.  For example, I'm about to send 50 kits to Uganda.  That means in the expected minimum 3-year lives of those kits, 50 girls will each have 180 days of protection. The group of 50 teens together will have 9000 extra days of protection, which will mean that they can go to school or do what ever they choose with confidence.  That's the equivalent of almost 25 YEARS of reclaimed days for those girls! Deceptively packaged in pretty drawstring bags!  And this is just because of the 50 kits in a suitcase one man will check when he travels to Uganda this month!

THEY DO THE MATH

If you're a woman, have you ever thought about how many days you have menstruated and will menstruate in your life?  Here's a link where you can find that out--they do the math.  The site puts into perspective what this means for somebody who has to sit out of life every time she has a period.

TED TALK

Kayla-Leah is the leader of a Days for Girls Chapter in Idaho.  Her Ted Talk is being translated into into Arabic, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese!

GREAT VIDEO

I probably posted this video of a Days for Girls distribution in Malawi before, but it's worth a rerun.  I LOVE the girls' reaction when they learn their kits will include underpants.

OCTOBER 11 IS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL

The first International Day of the Girl (Child) was declared in 2012 by the United Nations. So much love is poured into improving the lives and futures of girls--by Days for Girls volunteers and so many others. Google "International Day of the Girl" and you'll find many links.  This quote is from the UN:

Since 2012, 11 October has been marked as the International Day of the Girl. The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. 

2018 theme: With Her: A Skilled GirlForce

Today's generation of girls are preparing to enter a world of work that is being transformed by innovation and automation. Educated and skilled workers are in great demand, but roughly a quarter of young people – most of them female – are currently neither employed or in education or training.

Of the 1 billion young people – including 600 million adolescent girls – that will enter the workforce in the next decade, more than 90% of those living in developing countries will work in the informal sector, where low or no pay, abuse and exploitation are common. 

On 11 October, International Day of the Girl, we are working alongside all girls to expand existing learning opportunities, chart new pathways and calling on the global community to rethink how to prepare them for a successful transition into the world of work.

Under the theme, With Her: A Skilled GirlForce, International Day of the Girl will mark the beginning of a year-long effort to bring together partners and stakeholders to advocate for, and draw attention and investments to, the most pressing needs and opportunities for girls to attain skills for employability.

And, just posted by Days for Girls International:

Happy International Day of the Girl!  This year, with the theme "With Her: A Skilled Girl Force", the UN is calling on organizations, partners, and stakeholders everywhere to advocate for and work toward investing in opportunities for girls to attain skills for the workforce. 

At DfG, we work toward this every day, by supporting our local Enterprises to make and sell DfG Kits, and to be strong leaders and agents of change in their communities. 

Join us as today to celebrate girls, and as we launch our own year long campaign: #NeverAlonePeriod--letting women and girls everywhere know they are not alone in suffering lost opportunity, dignity and health due to something as basic and natural as having a period.

A CHALLENGE for THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL 2018

I challenge you all to spend some time Thursday (or this month) doing something that will benefit our less fortunate young sisters around the world!  If what you choose to do is monetary, here's the link to donate to our chapter online.  Donors are immediately provided with a receipt!

This fits right in with the Global Girls' Festival Days for Girls has created, for the 30 days leading up to our 10th birthday.  November 1.  They're also launching a year-long campaign--NeverAlonePeriod--so we are encouraged in many ways to jump in and change lives!

Oh, and about that 10th birthday?  Our chapter is celebrating it at our November 3 workday (2 days late).  Please come, enjoy each others' company, accomplish a lot, and delight in some scrumptious chocolate cake from Sweet Life Patisserie! Presents gladly accepted.  There's a list of gift suggestions in the September 13 post.