By Rowan McClean
Partnerships allow Rotary to ‘do good in the world’ beyond just its own capacity. Here is a great example.
Days For Girls International (DfG) is an award-winning Non Government Organisation that works to shatter stigma and limitations associated with menstruation for improved female health, education, and livelihoods. Since 2008, DfG has reached over two million women and girls in 144 countries with menstrual health solutions and education, trained 200 enterprise leaders, and mobilised over 1,000 volunteer chapters, teams, and clubs.
An American woman, who saw the need to help girls in Kenya that were prevented from attending school during their menstrual cycles, started DfG about 12 years ago. At that time, thirty-eight per cent of young girls were not able to attend school. Providing hygiene kits consisting of brightly coloured materials that can be laundered and used for upt to three years, has resulted in that figure being reduced to just seven per cent. Previously, girls were often embarrassed, isolated and unable to access or afford sanitary items.
DfG Kenya Enterprise Leader, Alice Wambui Mwangi recently observed: "We are making washable menstrual kits that help keep girls in school and give them hope for breaking the cycle of early marriage and childbirth. An educated girl can break the cycle of poverty and empower her to follow her dreams.”
An Australian offshoot is now responsible for the Pacific area. In 2016, two North Balwyn Rotarians and two Rotarian partners visited the Solomon Islands where the club had been conducting community support projects for some time and knew there were some sewing machines. Jane Pennington and Bev Sofra in particular progressed the project.
Bev told Networker: “We taught girls from a boarding school in Henderson, and a truck load of girls from the Tetere community an hour away, how to make kits. Many of the school sewing machines needed attention.”
A new overlocker machine was arranged by the club and taken to the school on a second trip about two years later. Rotarian “Mr Sewing” Brian Thomas and his wife Bev joined this team, and a thorough review of machines was conducted, repaired and a local man was trained in maintenance. For the other Rotarians in the team, the focus was on train-the-trainer for the teachers at Henderson and from surrounding missions and schools. Twenty leaders were trained in appropriate sewing techniques.
Rotary North Balwyn has funded some project expenses, including a third visit, as well as supplies and materials. Brian Thomas has recently funded the purchase of four sewing tables, two cupboards, a bookshelf and a wardrobe to support further training.
The North Balwyn DfG group has now produced more than 1,000 kits. Other partners such as World Vision and No Roads (in Papua New Guinea) often handle distribution.
Local enterprises will be encouraged to commence to make and distribute the kits, and a traffic light grading system by country has been adopted to identify where local businesses have commenced so as to avoid unfair competition. To avoid ‘treading on toes’, DfG checks in the traffic light orange-coded countries with the authorities responsible to see what specific approach is required. DfG can either supply direct, or distribute the kits through local enterprises.
“The Solomon Islands have a few small start-up groups, but they cannot produce anywhere near the volumes needed so there are currently no restrictions,” Bev advises.
With Melbourne’s COVID lockdowns lifted, the North Balwyn DfG group has recommenced sewing days. Other Rotarians are planning to join the group, so the future of this valuable partnership is assured.