February Humanitarian Day
Days For Girls
by Connie Beecroft
Demaree Johnson from Days for Girls taught us how to make hygiene kits.
Days For Girls mission statement...
We increase access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, cultivating Social Enterprises, mobilizing volunteers and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigma and limitations for women and girls.
The Days For Girls Kits includes...
How it all began
Days for Girls began in 2008 when our Founder, Celeste Mergens, was working with a foundation in Kenya assisting an orphanage in the outskirts of Nairobi. In the wake of historic post-election violence, the population at the orphanage had swelled from 400 children to 1,400.
Upon inquiring about the menstrual health practices of the many girls at the orphanage, Celeste learned that many were sitting on cardboard in their rooms for several days each month – often going without food unless someone would bring it to them. This set into motion her first intervention: disposable pads. But Celeste and her team quickly discovered that without any place to dispose of the pads, this was not a viable or sustainable solution.
It was time for plan B: a washable, long-lasting pad.
Nearly 50 sisters traced, cut, Surged, sewed, inserted drawstrings, ironed, folded, and assembled over 60 completed kits as well as made dozens of components for future assembly.
Helping hands never looked so beautiful...
We are His hands
Our hands can embrace
Our hands can comfort
Our hands can serve
We are His hands
'remember in all things the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple' D&C 52:40.
Completed kit
A few of our Relief Society Activity Committee members.
A delicious chicken salad sandwich, veggie chips, mandarin oranges, and cookies were served.
A great conference talk to go along with this humanitarian project is from Dieter F Uchtdorf, April 2010 General Conference "You Are My Hands"
For more information about Days for Girls please go to www.daysforgirls.org
email: stgeorgeut@daysforgirls.org
