I’ve been given permission to put up a section of a recent post from Andrea’s blog, Babe of My Heart:
Every month, I have to deal with what most girls deal with…a monthly cycle. Sorry if that’s too personal to say–but it should come as no surprise to you. I take for granted that every month I stock up on the things I need…and I can get them in any size, weight and style I would like. And not only that–I complain about my cramps. I complain that I am a bit inconvenienced and I remind my husband that he is lucky to be a boy and he doesn’t have to endure such hardship each month.
SO…let me ask you this—what do you think the women and young girls of Korah do during this time? What will it be like for the hundreds of girls who are (praise GOD!) being sponsored to leave Korah this Fall and go to a boarding school? What will they do as they try to sit in class during this time? What do the woman and girls we support in Zambia do?
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?
Well, let me tell you what they do. They squat. They wait for their week to end. On their heavy days, some roll up newspapers and make their own tampons. Many get infections. The infections make their parents and husbands think they have STDs and they endure being left or abused. Some use a single piece of old clothing–and when it’s soiled–they rinse it and use it again…although it’s still wet—it’s some what clean.
Did you know that in Africa the dropout rate for for young girls in school is 40% when they have no sanitary supplies? BUT when they are provided them–it rises to just 8%?
What can we do about it?
Andrea, and also Sarah at Titus Home, have put out a call, and given us a practical way to help these girls – they are encouraging ladies around the country to have sewing parties and make washable feminine products to be sent to these girls and young women in Ethiopia and Zambia.
So, if you’d like to take up the challenge, and spend a few hours in service to these young women (and make a concrete difference in their lives!), I’d like to invite you to join me
on September 25 · 9:00am – 12:00pm
at Central Bible Church
8815 NE Glisan St
Portland, OR
for a morning of sewing, to put together as many washable feminine kits as we can, to be sent to these young women October 1.
WHAT TO BRING: your sewing machines, sergers, cutting mats, scissors, rotary cutters, thread, old towels or flannel sheets (for batting). Any spare velcro, snap closures you might have.
WHAT IS PROVIDED: patterns, ALL FABRIC, a few extra sewing machines and sergers. Coffee, snacks and CHILDCARE.
Last night, I made a sample kit today using the pattern supplied by The Red Tent Project. The kit consists of 5-6 envelopes, each with snap closures, and half with leakproof PUL, for heavy days (see above). It also includes 4 thick, “maxi” pads (see below), which unfold for easier drying on the line, and 8 regular pads (see 2nd picture in this post), which can be doubled up if needed.
If you are interested in making kits, but are unable to attend on the 25th, please e-mail me at angela.baker.knits@gmail.com, and I will send you the pattern and instruction details, as well as shipping addresses. Or, if you prefer, select a pattern you like from the internet. They are requesting that you use bright or dark print fabric, and prefer foldable inserts, since thicker pads and AIO designs do not dry well on the line.
To round out the kits, we are sewing a drawstring bag for all of the pieces, and attempting to collect 2-3 pair of new undies to include, as well. If you might like to contribute to the project by donating funds for new undies, please contact me at the above e-mail address. Thanks!
-Grateful for the intense and much-needed rain this week, followed by a bolt of growth all over the gardens.
