Bear with me, folks. If you sit in front of American TV, you listen to copious oblique commercials about the comfort, absobitancy and shape of feminine products. I want to write about places like Zambia where there are no paper products or Motrin and girls stay home from school 3 days per month unless they are timed for 2-day weekend periods. Not. That amounts to missing 6 weeks of school in 3 years of adolescence.
Our recent Camp Glow's craft time included time for the girls to sew sanitary pads from towels and chitenges. One participant rated that as her favorite activity on her evaluation at the end of the week.
The sister of another Peace Corps Volunteer learned of an American NGO called Days for Girls who is aware of the connection between sanitary supplies and staying in school and who graciously donated a kit for each girl. The kit consists of a machine sewn holder (not the garter belt of olden days) cloth pads, soap and washcloth, a ziplock bag, and a new pair of panties all encased in a cloth carrying sack with drawstring. I am quite excited about having a little hygiene session with the 2 girl leaders from my village. We will discuss a way that all the girls can sew pads in the after school club for girls which we plan to establish.
Was going to wish you a wonderful full next year, but oh my, sewing sanitary pads took me aback. I think the girls are very lucky to have you with your down home common sense. Any idea when you might come back to the states for your home visit?
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