Michelle Gates is the Victorian coordinator and runs the Ferntree Gully chapter of the Days for Girls organisation. Michelle has been involved with Days For Girls for 4 years and is a mother of 3 children.
Days for Girls began in 2008 when Founder and CEO Celeste Mergens was working in Kenya when she began assisting an orphanage in the outskirts of Nairobi. She wondered “What are girls doing for feminine hygiene?” The reply was “Nothing. They wait in their rooms.”
Celeste learned that girls were sitting on cardboard for several days each month, often going without food unless someone would bring it to them. This set in motion her first intervention - disposable pads. But Celeste and her team quickly discovered a major problem - without any place to dispose of the pads, this was not a viable or sustainable solution. It was time for plan B: a washable, long lasting pad.
Michelle spoke of her own experience with Days for Girls and how she had visited East Timor to see their work first-hand. In Dili, she saw that a packet of disposable sanitary pads was $USD 4.70. It doesn't sound much until you consider that the average income is $USD per month.
Over 27 iterations, the organisation has developed a kit that has high user-acceptance, uses little water, dries quickly, is cost-effective, comfortable and discreet. The kits cost $ 10-16 to make and last for 3 years (180 days).
Also attending the meeting was Rotarian Ann Lynch (Eltham) and her friend Lyn Burell. They are involved in the Donvale Chapter and assist in the sewing and assembly of the kits. If you or a family member or friend wish to be involved, please contact the Chapter President Margaret Cunningham.
On the 15th June we are having a ladies day at Bunnings Nunawading with Fast Ed from Better Homes and Gardens. He is doing a cooking show from 11am to 2pm. If you have any ladies or gentlemen at the club or friends that might be interested in coming along on the day, let me know asap, this is a free event. RSVPs required for catering purposes to
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