A group of local Macedon Ranges women has been making sustainable, reusable menstrual hygiene kits to distribute to girls across the developing world.
The local chapter of Days For Girls is one of many around the world (there are about 120 in Australia) that make and distribute the kits together with vital education regarding reproductive health and hygiene.
The movement has reached more than one million girls – and counting!
Carolyn Walker, the Victorian coordinator for Days for Girls and leader of the Macedon Ranges group, explained that the intention was to keep girls in school.
“It’s one of the biggest barriers to girls completing their education,” Ms Walker said.
“We’re working with social enterprises and other non-government organisations like the Macedon Ranges Friends of East Timor to supply kits wherever they’re needed.”
MRFOET has had a friendship with the remote mountain community in Turiscai since 2008.
Spokesperson Fran Wigley said the group had delivered the program to year 10 girls at the local senior secondary school in Turiscai for the past three years and planned to continue this action annually for every year 10 class at the school.
“Kits provide a sustainable, re-usable option for the girls, and they have a life span of three to four years,” Ms Wigley said.
“Our gift to these young people supports our goal to have the girls attend school every day, and not to miss a week of each month because of their period.
“Around 100 kits have been delivered each year and this includes heavy flow kits that are provided for new mothers who attend the local Maternal and Child Health Clinic.
“The very same wonderful ladies who make these kits have been making beautiful face masks to raise funds to further distribute Days for Girls across the many needy spots around our world.”
The local Days For Girls chapter normally meets once a month at the Gisborne Uniting Church to make the components for the kits.
“At the moment we’re not meeting but we welcome enquiries for when COVID restrictions ease,” Ms Walker said.
Contact Carolyn at macedonranges@daysforgirls.org or visit www.daysforgirls.org/australia
or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/macedonrangesvic
