Days for Girls assisting less privileged

For young females living in some areas of nations such as the Philippines, once they begin the transition from a girl to a woman, they do not have access to sanitary items meaning during that time of the month they have to sit on cardboard, and it takes away one week of education a month.

This is why the Day for Girls organisation was created. An organisation that provides under privileged females generally in third world nations with sanitary items, something many local women take for granted.

There is currently a Days for Girls Australia organisation as well as a division in Yarrawonga which are 100% voluntarily run. Every role from account auditor to advocate to sewer to marketer.

Yarrawonga local Michelle Connell is the team leader for the Yarrawonga branch who have sent kits to the Dalesan Kailawan Centre in Kulaman, Mindanao and also to Laos in response to the needs of a refugee camp there.

Michelle spoke of the amazing work the organisation does at the last AIM breakfast with local ladies further enthralled in what is being done to assist those that are less privileged.

“The Day for Girls organisation International was founded in 2008 by Celeste Mergens who was working with a foundation in Kenya assisting an orphanage,” Ms Connell said.

“In the wake of post-election violence, the population at the orphanage had swelled from 400 children to 1,400.

“Before the organisation started, girls used to sit on cardboard during their time of the month and it took away one week of education a month.

“Now the organisation raises funds to make washable, reusable sanitary care kits. These are then distributed to girls and women in need.

“The washable kits contain two moisture barrier shields, eight trifold liners, a large cotton drawstring bag, one hotel sized soap, two pairs of undies, one washcloth, one moisture proof bag and a pictorial instruction sheet.

“A Day for Girls kit lasts for three years and allows a girl to attend school every day of the month. Period.”

As stated on the Days for Girls International website access to timely, information about puberty and menstruation can lead to increased body literacy, a healthy public perception of menstruation and decreased stigma and shame.

Menstrual health and hygiene are critical factors in improving education opportunities and livelihood outcomes for menstruators worldwide with Days for Girls assisting in the change to cultural behaviours surrounding young females who have begun their period.

“The kits we are sending to the Dalesan Kailawan Centre in Kulaman, Mindanao, which houses the girls from the impoverished indigenous tribes are supporting a team who are doing a wonderful job supporting the girls in their education journey,” Michelle said.

“Traditionally the young girls in that area have been married off as soon as they get their first period.

“This has occurred because the family of the girls receive a dowry for the wedding to go ahead, and as they are so desperately poor, the parents encourage this event.

“A result of these marriages is that the young ladies have been having their first babies at the ages of 11,12 and 13.

“The women running the Dalesan Kailawan Centre have been extremely active regarding this cultural behaviour.

“They have been speaking continually with the families and explaining to them that if they let their daughters stay at school, the education will help improve life for the whole tribe as these girls can become trained in healthcare and teaching and therefore be able to support their families forever with their ongoing income.

“They have reduced these occurrences by

Adolescence is a hard phase to navigate for any teenager but for females, in third world nations, it is another thing entirely.

over 90%. The Days for Girls kits are supporting the Girls Centre, while the administrators are supporting the families.

“They have already had their first teaching graduate come back to work in their area. This is an absolutely wonderful outcome.

“I thought the second point was both horrific and enlightening but also a vital note to make.”

Now Yarrawonga have a group who are working towards improving the lives of females in third world nations by providing sanitary items. This allows those females to keep attending school as education is vital in assisting these young women to help their situation in life.

The group in Yarrawonga began through the work of the late well-known and loved Rosemary Cullen.

Rosemary travelled to Cebu and returned passionately determined to make changes to help the poorest of the poor. Sadly Rosie never got to do that.

Some staff at Sacred Heart Primary School (SHPS) decided to raise money to keep Rosie’s dream alive and have made a few trips to Cebu and observed the dire poverty firsthand.

The SHPS community have supported them wonderfully with various fundraisers and the Rosemary Cullen Foundation has proudly supported childcare centres, kindergartens, schools and orphanages over the last 10 years.

“On their return from the last trip, they discussed seeing some young ladies who had nothing to manage their periods with,” Ms Connell said.

“We looked into a number of ideas and solutions and soon found that Days for Girls International are a highly respected and organised non for-profit organisation which would help us to work towards a solution.

“The Yarrawonga Days for Girls group first met in March 2021 and now continue to meet in the old Railway Station. We sew the components which make up the kits.

“Our local branch has over a dozen sewers who have learnt how to sew each piece following the instructions of Days for Girls International.

“Days for Girls Yarrawonga work and fundraise independently from the Rosemary Cullen Foundation, even though the two groups strongly support the cause of the other.

“We welcome all helpers. People don’t have to be able to sew or overlock. We happily receive donations as each kit takes many hours to produce and costs around $15.

“Currently we are working towards sending 150 packs to Mindaneo. This is made with hundreds of hours of donated time. The fabrics used to make this number over kits costs over $2200 and then we pay for shipping and insurance.

“We are very happy to acknowledge the kindness of the Rotary Club of Yarrawonga Mulwala for their wonderful support.

“We welcome sewers and overlockers who would like to learn from our patterns. These patterns are very practical and have managed to balance between use/comfort/longevity by taking note of the feedback of the creators and users both.”

All donations are tax deductible and you can follow the group and their progress on Facebook through Days for Girls Yarrawonga Vic Aus Team.

If you would like to get involved through donations of funds or materials, or would like to assist with sewing, please email Michelle on yarrawongavic@daysforgirls.org

“A lot can change with a little bag”.