Days for Girls

One goal of this trip was to partner with a great charity - Days for Girls (Daysforgirls.org) to deliver some health education and re-usable feminine hygiene supplies.  OK, male readers hang in there...

Girls and women in the majority world often stay home from school or work when they are menstruating. They can't afford disposable feminine hygiene products, and often use rags instead.  This great charity has developed a "kit" for girls/women with washable, re-usable products for them to use, which also includes: soap, washcloth, zip lock bags for soiled supplies, new underwear and the washable pads/holders.

I recruited a local woman leader who is in training for public health to work with me on the teaching here at the school.  Winnie (in the white Tshirt) was excited about the program and hopefully will continue to shepherd it along when I go.  The hope is that the sewing students at the vocational school will pick this up as a project to make the kits - even possibly using it as a "micro-business" idea.  Here are a few photos of our presentation... Winnie speaking about the kits - bringing up some volunteers to help her.  We had about 30 girls and some teachers too (hoping they will become trainers too)

Winnie was a natural teacher and she had them laughing with her impersonations and "local" jokes... I on the other hand taught about the female anatomy and the menstrual cycle.  I was at a definite disadvantage as far as entertainment value.

All in all it went really, really well.  It was a great opportunity to watch a talented African woman lead the presentation, and move into topics like staying in school, caring for your own health, controlling your destiny by not getting pregnant (or getting HIV)...  we were able to give each girl a tangible "gift" that is helpful, re-usable and replicable on a local level.  A big win, and hopefully it will continue on in this area.

(later when I get home I'll try to post some video's of the meeting.)