NOVEMBER 2019

LESS THAN A DOLLAR A DAY

Think about the fact that millions of females of menstruating age live on less than a dollar a day.  It's not hard to figure out whether their families would choose to spend several of those dollars each month on menstrual supplies. In hopes of carrying on something close to a normal life during their period each month, many girls and women living in poverty try to make do with anything they hope might be at least somewhat absorbent--cardboard, newspaper, rags, mattress stuffing, corn husks, leaves, etc., but many of these items cause them infections.  And, of course they limit their activity and movement.  

And then along comes Days for Girls, with our solution of washable kits that should last 3-4 years.  In the poorest parts of the world, these kits are given free of charge to the girls and women, along with our Ambassador of Women's Health education (on anatomy, reproduction, hygiene, self-defense and kit care).  Many nonprofits distribute beautiful, life-changing DFG kits they buy from the in-country Enterprises, or request them from chapters and teams like ours (we hope with a donation to help with our expenses).  All of a sudden the new kit owners are not losing five days a month!  With the shields snapped in place, their movement isn't limited--they can run, jump rope, dance, work, go to school, etc.  

If you get or got a chance to watch the video of a distribution posted on Facebook by the vivacious Alice Wambui Mwangi last month, you'll see how the girls in her audience were so delighted when she did all sorts of moves, and the panties holding a shield and liner she had put on over her leggings were staying put.  Alice doesn't limit her Facebook to FB friends, so you can watch it on her page, or if you're a FB friend of mine, it's on my page too.  Alice welcomes you to friend her--she currently has over 3900 FB friends, which means so many people can see what an amazing force she is for Days for Girls!

If there's a Days for Girls Enterprise near where they live, women and girls can save up to buy additional or replacement components and purchase those locally, one by one as needed.  In addition to the convenience, this provides an opportunity to local women earn an income.

Every hour or dollar you spend helping us with our kits is changing lives.  I love seeing videos and photos of distributions and girls holding up their new kits.  Such delight on those faces!  And, I'm very proud of how absolutely beautiful and perfect the kits are that we're turning out here in Lane County!  One person who distributed our kits in Africa said some of the girls expressed amazement that strangers on the other side of the world would make such beautiful kits just for them.  They just might be surprised to learn of the joy it brings us!

AND IN THE USA--NATIONAL PERIOD DAY COVERAGE

Chapter and Team leaders receive a monthly newsletter from our Chapter Liaison person.  This month's (below) has links to coverage of some National Period Day events held on October 19.  I hope these rallies brought needed attention to the unfairness of taxing tampons and pads.  Thirty-five states still levy a sales tax on them.   Oh, and food stamps and Medicaid funds cannot used for menstrual supplies. Did somebody say Period Equity? 

But, happily, a few cities and states now require that pads/tampons be provided free in all public schools, prisons and homeless shelters.  Just like toilet paper is.  And some institutions are doing that on their own, just because it's the right thing to do.

Interested in seeing more  from National Period Day? Watch DfG US Northeast Regional Rep Leslie Roy's speech in PA HERE ((and others) Watch DfG Board Member Clarice Chan speech HERE Read an article published in the Salt Lake Tribune about The Utah Rally HERE They say a picture is worth a thousand words and this is certainly the case for US National Period Day. Here are some highlights from DfG volunteers' involvement throughout the US!

AN UNDERGROUND CLUB

At work, have you ever hidden a tampon in your sleeve before walking to the bathroom?  Been embarrassed to buy menstrual products when the cashier was a male?  Read this article!

I remember the first time I spoke to the Springfield Lions, I said something like, "If somebody had told me that 20 years after menopause I'd be speaking to groups about menstruation, I wouldn't have believed them."  

It's amazing to me that something that is a normal part of life for half of the world's population has any sense of embarrassment attached to it!  I think great strides have been made in just the past few years to address that issue.  But, we have a long ways to go!  Thank you for your work and for talking openly about menstruation and Days for Girls.  

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY,  DAYS FOR GIRLS!

November 1, 2008 is the date Days for Girls International was formed by Celeste Mergens.  Since then, so many concerned and caring people have been working together to provide kits and improve the lives of women in the poorest parts of the world--there are 910 teams and chapters with over 6000 volunteers.  

Over 1.5 million of our DfG kits have gone to 141 countries in Africa (55%), Asia (22%), Latin America (16%) and elsewhere, each delivered with a fun presentation of anatomy, reproduction, hygiene, self defense, and kit care education.  Quite an accomplishment in such a short period of time!

We celebrated this birthday Saturday with an amazing, beautiful, ultra-rich Chocolate Orgasm cake from Sweet Life Patisserie. 

We had a good turnout and made much progress on our kit components.  Our volunteers are a fun and caring group--many former strangers are now good friends outside of our workdays, and I think we all look forward to the social aspect as much as to what we accomplish.  A few stayed all day, most for just what hours worked best for them.  If you haven't joined us yet, I hope you can make it sometime in 2020.  As usual, I apologize for not getting everybody in a photo.  We had well over 20 volunteers yesterday.  I thank them all!  Here are my woefully amateur shots from the day, showing just some of the volunteers, fun and varied tasks/steps we worked on.

WHEN IS OUR NEXT WORKDAY?

As posted earlier, we will not meet the first Saturday in December, as Our  Sewing Room is holding a special event for their members that day.

If we have a request come up and we need to get together to work on that before January, I'll post that here and send an email to those of you on our mailing list.  

Otherwise, enjoy the holiday season, and I hope to see you January 4th.