Paving the way to sustainable female health - Days for Girls

    A global movement gained local traction and has around 15 Leavenworth volunteers supporting the cause - Days for Girls, Ambassadors of Women's Health, is a non-profit organization that provides access and education for menstrual care.
    "The founders of this project determined that if young girls had education as to what menstruation is and that half the world is going through this, they could take care of themselves and they simply needed the materials to do it," said Judy Rector, founder of the Leavenworth volunteers for the program
    Menstrual care and accessibility to needed products are vital for every female regardless of location on a map or economic standing. Unfortunately scattered across the globe, young girls don't have access to products for menstrual care and would suffer by missing school when that monthly visitor came. Days for Girls recognized this and created a movement to provide sustainable options for that time of the month.
    "Sadly, the girls in developing countries don't have access to menstrual products. So they use leaves, cow dung, mattress stuffing, anything they can to take care of themselves," explained Rector. "Meanwhile, they get infections and in many cultures, like India and Pakistan, they are outlawed for that week of the month and go sit in a goat shed or somewhere out of their village so the uncleanliness during that time will not contaminate the other villagers."    
    While in Leavenworth, there are limited obstacles wedged between girls and the local pharmacy for women to get needed products, that is not the case on a global scale. In certain locations in  developing countries, like Haiti, women don't have a CVS to run into like girls in privileged places. There is also a sense of shame attached to periods and these girls don't see the splashy, colorful tampon commercials like many girls are exposed to in the U.S., normalizing the natural occurrence.  
    "They have served over a million girls with a kit and education. Before the girls get a kit, they get the hows and whys of what's going on, why does this happen and how can I take care of myself and be clean. And pass on that information to my family and children when I'm older," said Rector.
    Rector and her comrades get together once a month to put together these kits in an assembly line like format. The seamstresses come with the liners and shields sewed and ready to go. The crew purposely selects dark colors for the underwear to hide stains and supplies a clean washcloth and soap as well. Rector said she gathers scrap fabric to reduce some of the cost. The products have been able to last up to three and four years, making them a sustainable option for these girls.
    "These are good for three to four years, if you take care of it they are lasting that long. That means girls are staying in school much longer and don't have to pay for their care. They can't, they have no money, they can hardly feed themselves," said Rector.
    The sewing is just a sliver of what Days for Girls does. The program also provides education to young girls that aren't given the same rite of passage - sex education - that girls in American society are given when approaching puberty.
    "When they're given their kits, we have a flip chart in three or four languages. It shows a worldwide need for this, what menstruation is, how to care for yourself and what to share with your partner
    The kit comes along with a flip chart that actively engages the girls to ensure they're comprehending. The kit also comes with a cycle calendar for the girls to be able to track their period.
    "The big thing with menstrual care is is the (age group) 12 and older whenever their period starts can now stay in school and know the way to take care of themselves. Instead of staying home or in a hut somewhere, they can go to school because they have the care they need," said Rector. "With this kit they are giving themselves the opportunity for an education and to compete in the workforce and move on in society."
    The program started in 2008 and Rector gathered her comrades together three years ago, 2016, to contribute from Leavenworth. According to Rector, this local effort began with Methodist Church women, it has reached out to volunteers from the community and other interested folks. The working group changes with time availability of all involved and Rector stressed it's often a home project.
    "We're making a real difference. Giving them dignity, sharing understanding and when the training is finished they seem to hold their head a little higher," said Rector. "This is something they now know about, they understand it, it's not a shameful thing."