Borrego Sun - Since 1949

In March, Soroptimist Borrego Springs member Kathy Dice will be traveling to Rwanda. While there, she hopes to have collected enough funds to purchase personal hygiene supplies and educational health support for 100 girls through the local Days for Girls (DfG) program.

Borrego Springs Soroptimists are fundraising in February, to raise funds for Dice's care mission. For over a decade, DfG https://www.daysforgirls.org/dfg-pads/# has been working to improve the lives and livelihoods of women and girls in developing countries, providing health education and reusable, sustainable feminine hygiene supplies, which are hard to come by.

"I learned about Days for Girls in 2019 when we had a Soroptimist event to hear invited speaker, Jeanna Nash, one of the founders of the organization. I thought it was ingenious of her to have found a way to support women, especially young girls, in a subtle way that helps them get the education they deserve, but could miss out on," stated Dice.

In a remote area near Akagera National Park, Dice will visit the young women of the local school and arrange for the Kits to be delivered. Education is a vital component of Days for Girls. By taking classes to schools and community centers, DFG's seeks to shatter the shame and stigma associated with menstruation that causes young girls to be banned from school during their cycle.

"When planning my trip to Africa, we asked a friend of our trip leader who runs a school for girls in Akagera, Rwanda, what we might bring to help out at the school. The top request was feminine hygiene products for the young women. Sanitary napkins are hard to come by, and the result is that the girls have to miss school during their monthly periods. I immediately thought of the Days for Girls kits and committed to supplying 100 kits for the girls at the school," explained Dice. "The kits will be accompanied by an educator who will teach the girls about their bodies and how to use the kits – a win-win in my book."

The kits contain cost-effective, safe, sustainable, and contextually relevant products that help women, and girls manage their periods and engage in livelihood activities.

All kits for distribution are sourced from locally owned and operated Days for Girls Enterprises. Sourcing DfG Kits locally TRIPLES the impact by delivering the packages to women and girls in person, as Dice is doing. It also elevates local leaders and supports sustainable sewing co-ops.

Days for Girls has reached more than two million women and girls in 144 countries with period products and health education. Your donation will help Kathy Dice and Soroptimists reach more girls with the resources needed to manage their periods, stay in school, and chase their dreams.

To donate, please visit http://www.siborregosprings.org/donate/. Click the drop-down menu and choose "Days for Girls" to direct your donation to this program. Your donation is tax-deductible. Soroptimist Borrego Springs is a 501 C3 non-profit.