Women's group from Minnesota make & donate reusable pad kits!
Members of a women’s group called the “Relief Society” from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Maple Grove, Minnesota get together each month. Their purpose is to increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, strengthen individuals, families and homes, and help those in need.
We are honored that they have reached out to help AGHF girls stay in school!
How are they keeping girls in school?
They are doing this by sewing reusable pads for the girls to use during their menstrual cycles.
We are so grateful to these women who have gathered in their homes and spent hours drawing patterns, cutting, pinning and sewing for girls they have never met that live across the world! A menstrual cycle should not be the end of any girl’s education!
The result?
Beautiful Reusable Pad Kits ready to go to Africa!
How will these kits be delivered to the girls in Africa?
This year several AGHF board members and our founders Dr. Grace Nkundabantu and Denis Horaho are traveling to Kenya. They will take these kits with them and help with the distribution.
Why are menstrual cycles stopping girls from going to school?
Many girls miss a week of school when they are on their period. Many stop going and never go back. One of the main reasons is that they cannot afford the cost of pads. Another roadblock is the lack of understanding, education, and negative stigma associated with menstrual cycles in their communities. Educating them about their cycles and providing supplies are vital to keeping girls in school.
How do reusable pads work?
These pads are made with an outside layer of fabric which can easily absorb blood during a girl’s menstrual cycle. Then, to prevent the blood from seeping through all the fabric, a middle layer of waterproof fabric is added and that stops the blood. If a girl needs to change her pad while she is at school, she can simply store it in a plastic bag and replace it with a fresh pad. The beauty of these kits is in the washing. They can be washed and reused over and over again.
These kits give each girl not just a reusable fabric pad and plastic bag, but are a gift of self-respect, personal hygiene and the ability to go to school every day of the year!
Thank you!!
We want to thank each of the women who shared their time, talents, resources and love. Thank you for making and donating these kits! Thank you for helping girls stay in school!
“Every volunteer is a ray of light in a world where the sun sets nightly.
You are needed and greatly appreciated!”
Thank you to Alene Rasmussen and the women in her church in Maple Grove, Minnesota!
Here is a little more information about the women from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
The church is worldwide with congregations all over the world, including in 18 in Nairobi, Kenya. :)
The women's organization is called the Relief Society. It was founded in 1842 with a small group of women and now has more than 7 million members worldwide.
The women in each congregation are also organized to visit and care for each other. It's a beautiful way to learn from each other and meet with and help women all over the world. They are encouraged to seek out the poor, and serve others.