IT'S SPRING!

SUPPORTING OUR ENTERPRISES

Days for Girls has 108 Enterprises in 15 Third World countries, and more become certified every year!  The people who work in them have received training in running a business, making kits and handling education and distributions. They are experienced, speak the local language, know the culture and know the material. Groups wanting to take kits to a location can request them from teams and chapters here, and check suitcases full of kits to take with them, OR they can order and purchase them from a local enterprise, supporting the local women.  If requesting from a team or chapter, a donation is appropriate--each kit contains $10-$12 of materials.  Prices from Enterprises may vary from country to country, but I believe they typically are less than the raw materials cost us!

Whether the kits come from here or the country where they will be distributed, having an Enterprise leader handle the required education piece is highly recommended, and considered more effective than us doing it with a translator.  They request reimbursement for time, travel and any meals during that time.  Quite a bargain!

We've helped a couple of Enterprises by packing suitcases of supplies for friends to take with them on travel to an area where there is a registered Enterprise.  Some things are easier to find here (flannel in darker, busy prints, rotary supplies, and PUL for example) and our support/donations help them keep their expenses low.

Enterprises are not only available to provide many kits for a large distribution, but they also can sell the individual components to local girls and women, who often buy them as they save up enough money for a shield, a liner, piece by piece.  In countries where the average annual income is just a few thousand, a whole kit is expensive.

Here is a bit more information on DFG Enterprises.  Click the links too.

These are photos of a distribution by Bella, who leads an Enterprise in Ghana.

Days for Girls has found that when distributing DfG Kits, including one key phrase during the education portion makes the difference between that distribution supporting or negatively affecting the local Enterprise. This special phrase (located on the back of the AWH Flipchart) says:

“These DfG Kits cost $10 (USD) each. However, today you are part of a sponsored leadership [pilot] for your community. You get to let others know how they worked. Are you willing to answer a few [Monitoring and Evaluation] questions for us?”

Why is this phrase so important? When this sentence is given, a dollar value is attached to their DfG Kit. This prepares the way for any Enterprises that currently exist or that will be started in that community in the future. “Free DfG Kits” create an expectation of future handouts, whereas “Sponsored DfG Kits” in exchange for their willingness to test this new product and share feedback in their community, creates a market within which an Enterprise will thrive.

OUR FIRST-SATURDAY-IN-MAY WORK CREW

I didn't get around to sending our email reminders until the day before our May 4th Saturday workday, so maybe that's why we had a smaller-than-usual group. But, boy, did they accomplish a lot!

If you don't want to miss out, please mark your calendars in advance for our workdays on the first Saturday of each month.  Over the years, we've only had to cancel at the last minute once or twice, because of winter weather conditions.  Workday information is always on this blog, and I would also send out an email to our list if we did have to cancel/change a date.

And please check this blog regularly for information updates.

So, here are some of our May 4th volunteers!

WOMEN'S SYMPOSIUM

On May 9, I had an information table at The Women's Symposium, sponsored by Lions Clubs in our area.  The focus of the gathering was Paying it Forward by Volunteering.

If you know of or belong to a group that would like a speaker or has a space for an information table or booth at an event, please let me know.  I can give a pretty complete presentation of the issue and Days for Girls' solutions in about half an hour or so.  Many of our volunteers and donations are a result of contacts made at places where I spoke or had an information table.

UPCOMING WORKDAYS

May 28th is International Menstrual Hygiene Day (see earlier posts for info.).  Since we will be sending lots of kits to refugees in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine this fall, we'll celebrate MHD by assembling some of them that day.  No sewing skills needed for this, as we stand along a table and pack the Ziplocs, assembly-line fashion.  You're welcome to stay and work on components afterwards.  We'll meet at 10:00 a.m. at 120 5th Street (NOT at Our Sewing Room!)

A few days later, June 1st, we'll have our regular First Saturday workday at Our Sewing Room.

If you're planning to come to either or both, please let me know!