Menstrual Pads for the girls of Sambhava Org.
Donation protected
Did you know the average woman spends the equivalent of 8 years of her life menstruating? For one week each month, life pauses whether she is prepared or not.
And many are not.
Throughout the world, millions of women and girls go without access to adequate menstrual health products — which means, during their “days”, they must also go without dignity. Without opportunity. Without healthcare.
A few months ago, I began the process of registering the Berlin chapter of the internationally recognized non-profit NGO called Days for Girls. With chapters all around the world, Days for Girls' volunteers sew reusable menstrual pads and distribute them to women and girls in developing countries.
By the end of July, we want to have ready 38 menstrual pad kits to distribute to the girls of Sambhava Nepal-Terre du possible (http://sambhava.net), a small NGO in Nepal founded by a group of young entrepreneurs after the terrible earthquakes of 2015.
Then in August, I will travel to Nepal to distribute the kits we’ve made to the girls. In addition, I will also share information and knowledge surrounding menstrual health so that the girls can start feeling empowered by what their bodies can do, not ashamed.
Each kit consists of 2 shields, 8 liners, a bar of soap, 2 pair of panties, 1 small towel, and a bag to carry it all in. It takes about 3 hours to sew/prepare each kit and costs approximately 20 euros.
We already have many talented volunteers helping us sew and prepare the kits, but now we need to raise more funds to buy adequate fabric, soap, and underwear. At the moment I have advanced all the expenses to make the first sewn components but I now need your help!
When you support DfG Berlin you’re not only providing menstrual health products, you’re providing fundamental access to healthcare and education.
What won't be used in the production of the menstrual kits will be given to different organizations located in Nepal based on the necessities. Every expenditure will be disclosed on this page.
If you would like to support, we would love it if you sponsored the cost of one kit (20 euros). If you aren't able to contribute that much at this time, you can also contribute a few euros too. Every bit helps! And if that is not an option, and you'd still like to help, you can share this project with your friends and family on social or by word of mouth.
In the amount needed we have included the 2.9% fee (excl. 25 cents per donation) charged by Gofundme and 85 Eur for some small equipment we purchased (like scissor and training material)
Thank you for your time! I truly appreciate each and every one of you!
Baci,
Fede
UPDATES: Fede and Nicole here. Greetings from Kathmandu.
We want to take a few moments to say THANK YOU for the important donation you made in order to make the 38 menstrual kits for the girls of Elegant Pearl English Secondary School (Sambhava Nepal) over the last 7 months. It was an experience that will live in our hearts forever and ever. The girls were so grateful and appreciative to have us there, listening attentively to our presentation and asking us thoughtful questions. Some of the girls asked for additional kits for their mum. With that we had the confirmation about their awareness of a need of menstrual equity.
The first day we arrived, we spent some time getting to know each other and introducing ourselves to the girls. We asked them what they wanted to do after they studied and you wouldn’t believe what most of them said, SOCIAL WORKERS. We also heard a lot of nurses, doctors, dancers, singers, and even a politician. These girls are the FUTURE and are going to impact their communities and the WORLD.
Each kit lasts 3-4 years. That means that the girls won’t have to worry about how they’re going to afford menstrual pads and can instead focus on making their dreams come true and the world a better place. And YOU ALL HELPED MAKE THAT POSSIBLE!!! SO THANK YOU!!!!
Before we gave out the bags, we guided them through a 5-senses meditation and then taught them a few yoga moves to relieve period pain. Then both of us explained what a period was and that it was nothing to be ashamed of — we are all here because of it, after all. Then Fede explained how to use the menstrual pad as well as how to clean them and take care of them. She even showed the girls how to fasten them to their underwear by putting hers on over her pants: ) The girls thought this was hilarious and a few people from the village were even watching from the gate and smiling!
After the distribution, we both got a bit emotional. The girls encircled us in a giant group hug and asked us if we were ok and if we were happy. They were even wiping our tears from our eyes. We had to assure them that we were very happy and that our tears were happy ones. After distribution, we played some games, ate lunch together and got to know each other even more.
We hope you will continue to put love in girls and women empowerment.
Thanks once again for helping us break the stigma surround menstruation and put an end to period poverty. We are firm believers that when a woman becomes empowered, she empowers not only her family but her community and the WORLD.
With this post we close the first chapter of our beautiful book <3
With gratitude,
Fede & Nicole
And many are not.
Throughout the world, millions of women and girls go without access to adequate menstrual health products — which means, during their “days”, they must also go without dignity. Without opportunity. Without healthcare.
A few months ago, I began the process of registering the Berlin chapter of the internationally recognized non-profit NGO called Days for Girls. With chapters all around the world, Days for Girls' volunteers sew reusable menstrual pads and distribute them to women and girls in developing countries.
By the end of July, we want to have ready 38 menstrual pad kits to distribute to the girls of Sambhava Nepal-Terre du possible (http://sambhava.net), a small NGO in Nepal founded by a group of young entrepreneurs after the terrible earthquakes of 2015.
Then in August, I will travel to Nepal to distribute the kits we’ve made to the girls. In addition, I will also share information and knowledge surrounding menstrual health so that the girls can start feeling empowered by what their bodies can do, not ashamed.
Each kit consists of 2 shields, 8 liners, a bar of soap, 2 pair of panties, 1 small towel, and a bag to carry it all in. It takes about 3 hours to sew/prepare each kit and costs approximately 20 euros.
We already have many talented volunteers helping us sew and prepare the kits, but now we need to raise more funds to buy adequate fabric, soap, and underwear. At the moment I have advanced all the expenses to make the first sewn components but I now need your help!
When you support DfG Berlin you’re not only providing menstrual health products, you’re providing fundamental access to healthcare and education.
What won't be used in the production of the menstrual kits will be given to different organizations located in Nepal based on the necessities. Every expenditure will be disclosed on this page.
If you would like to support, we would love it if you sponsored the cost of one kit (20 euros). If you aren't able to contribute that much at this time, you can also contribute a few euros too. Every bit helps! And if that is not an option, and you'd still like to help, you can share this project with your friends and family on social or by word of mouth.
In the amount needed we have included the 2.9% fee (excl. 25 cents per donation) charged by Gofundme and 85 Eur for some small equipment we purchased (like scissor and training material)
Thank you for your time! I truly appreciate each and every one of you!
Baci,
Fede
UPDATES: Fede and Nicole here. Greetings from Kathmandu.
We want to take a few moments to say THANK YOU for the important donation you made in order to make the 38 menstrual kits for the girls of Elegant Pearl English Secondary School (Sambhava Nepal) over the last 7 months. It was an experience that will live in our hearts forever and ever. The girls were so grateful and appreciative to have us there, listening attentively to our presentation and asking us thoughtful questions. Some of the girls asked for additional kits for their mum. With that we had the confirmation about their awareness of a need of menstrual equity.
The first day we arrived, we spent some time getting to know each other and introducing ourselves to the girls. We asked them what they wanted to do after they studied and you wouldn’t believe what most of them said, SOCIAL WORKERS. We also heard a lot of nurses, doctors, dancers, singers, and even a politician. These girls are the FUTURE and are going to impact their communities and the WORLD.
Each kit lasts 3-4 years. That means that the girls won’t have to worry about how they’re going to afford menstrual pads and can instead focus on making their dreams come true and the world a better place. And YOU ALL HELPED MAKE THAT POSSIBLE!!! SO THANK YOU!!!!
Before we gave out the bags, we guided them through a 5-senses meditation and then taught them a few yoga moves to relieve period pain. Then both of us explained what a period was and that it was nothing to be ashamed of — we are all here because of it, after all. Then Fede explained how to use the menstrual pad as well as how to clean them and take care of them. She even showed the girls how to fasten them to their underwear by putting hers on over her pants: ) The girls thought this was hilarious and a few people from the village were even watching from the gate and smiling!
After the distribution, we both got a bit emotional. The girls encircled us in a giant group hug and asked us if we were ok and if we were happy. They were even wiping our tears from our eyes. We had to assure them that we were very happy and that our tears were happy ones. After distribution, we played some games, ate lunch together and got to know each other even more.
We hope you will continue to put love in girls and women empowerment.
Thanks once again for helping us break the stigma surround menstruation and put an end to period poverty. We are firm believers that when a woman becomes empowered, she empowers not only her family but her community and the WORLD.
With this post we close the first chapter of our beautiful book <3
With gratitude,
Fede & Nicole
Organizer
Federica Cecalupo
Organizer
Berlin
