Days for Girls
A Celebration and Education Evening at Belmont Library about Days for Girls
Jo White (Minister for Fun)
To break the formality Jo organised a fun game of pass the chocolates dependent on a witty essay on erecting the BBQ gazebo. Congratulations Jo — very entertaining.
Jane Myers and Telsa Stubna
Explained the organisation of Days for Girls in Geelong; there is a Chapter that supports a number of teams.
These teams manufacture and prepare kits for distribution internationally. Most teams meet once or twice monthly for a working bee; some participants contribute by working at home and bringing-back their work at the next team meeting.
Guest Speakers — Diane Looker and Pam Timmins — Geelong Chapter Directors
The AIM of Days for Girls is to provide sanitary kits for girls so that they are not absent from school.
Each kit has eight cotton trifold liners and shields, a washcloth, two panties, some soap, two zip lock bags, an instruction slip and a sponge bag to hold all. When in use they last for about three years — or longer.
The instruction slip has two parts; and explanation of menstruation and instructions for the care and use of the kit.
Girls menstruate 60 days or two months each year. Each kit can earn back at least 180 days of the opportunity of education.
Combined with the education of how and why menstruation occurs means that each recipient is benefited with a massive increase in personal dignity; their menstruation is no longer an affliction that occurs for an unknown reason but an important part of their approach to womanhood.
There are 770+ chapters and teams worldwide; 100+ of these are in Australia and they have operated since 2010. The Geelong Chapter started in 2013 and has prepared two and half thousand kits. Worldwide Days for Girls has distributed over four hundred thousand kits to over 100 countries focusing on undeveloped and developing countries.
The need for the kits and the associated education is wrought by poverty, no-education and natural disasters. Days for Girls has maintained the Cottage Industry model of operation using volunteers to manufacture and distribute the kits directly to the girls. This keeps costs low and maintains the dignity for each participant and recipient. In Australia the cost of each kit is about fifteen dollars.
When the kits are distributed school attendance rises markedly. There are many examples to be seen at the website DaysforGirls.org
In many countries the scheme has trained ladies to be able to teach girls about menstruation. In some countries they have encouraged women and girls to manufacture kits by supplying raw materials and sewing machines.
Australians can assist by joining a Team and volunteer to sew or assemble kits. Donations to purchase fabrics are appreciated. Donations of hotel-size soaps are welcome.
Jo White
Days for Girls is similar to Rotary; it is a GIVING organisation. There are over thirty thousand Rotary volunteers worldwide and like Days for Girls we have shown Passion and Heart to fight polio for 38 years. The end is close to eradicate polio. Volunteers benefit the Community, the beneficiary and the volunteer.
DG Stephen Lamont
DG Stephen thanked Bayside Rotary for hosting this event and congratulated both Rotary and Days for Girls for their volunteer efforts.
SSA Simon — Major raffle prizes were won by Gaye Lamont and Peter Kavenagh. And the raffles raised about ninety dollars for Days for Girls.
Pres Daryll
Thanked everyone for attending especially DG Stephen and Gaye, and the speakers Diane and Pam. He extended an invitation to join the Club in Supper and invited all to join