To prepare you for our first project–this morning I ran across this…and thought it was perfect to share…
It reminded me how we take the simplest things for granted…like when I see a cute pair of shoes at Target. I…put them in my cart. Some times I think twice, but most of the time I justify…a good deal…and I “need” them.
Shoes is one thing to think I “need”…
Every month, I have to deal with what most girls deal with…a monthly cycle. Sorry if that’s too personal to say–but it should come as no surprise to you. I take for granted that every month I stock up on the things I need…and I can get them in any size, weight and style I would like. And not only that–I complain about my cramps. I complain that I am a bit inconvenienced and I remind my husband that he is lucky to be a boy and he doesn’t have to endure such hardship each month.
SO…let me ask you this—what do you think the women and young girls of Korah do during this time? What will it be like for the hundreds of girls who are (praise GOD!) being sponsored to leave Korah this Fall and go to a boarding school? What will they do as they try to sit in class during this time? What do the woman and girls we support in Zambia do?
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?
Well, let me tell you what they do. They squat. They wait for their week to end. On their heavy days, some roll up newspapers and make their own tampons. Many get infections. The infections make their parents and husbands think they have STDs and they endure being left or abused. Some use a single piece of old clothing–and when it’s soiled–they rinse it and use it again…although it’s still wet—it’s some what clean.
Did you know that in Africa the dropout rate for for young girls in school is 40% when they have no sanitary supplies? BUT when they are provided them–it rises to just 8%?
What can we do about it?
This is the plan: To provide EVERY girl going to school from Korah and every girl and widow at Wiphan 10 washable pads each + 3 pairs of underwear.
There is no way to continue to provide disposable–so we will be providing pre-made overnight pad for approximately 300 women and girls…so that means we need 300 overnight pads and 2,700 regular ones. Each young lady will be able to wear 3 or so a day, wash them out and let them dry–while she will still have a handful more for the following day…and the next…and so on.
NOW…this is where YOU come in. Because each pre-made pad can run around $10—you do the math and that $30,000 in pads. OUCH. SO…we are asking YOU–to HELP US MAKE THEM!
For the month of September and October–we are asking women across the country to join us in making a difference. We have a pattern and instructions you can follow (Thanks for the wonderful Red Tent Project lending us theirs!). You can make it fun—and invite your Sunday school women, small group and friends to help! (I promise if you can’t sew—you can still be used…if you can use scissors—YOU might just be the one to keep the coffee brewin’ while the others sew OR you may be able to cut the patterns and get the fabric ready for the sewers to roll!)
We want to ask you to pray about heading up either a solo project on your own OR heading up a sewing party to help us get as many pads as possible. If we get enough for Korah and Wiphan—then we’ll be donating the rest to the women in the Korah area and Wiphan compounds. If you are interested in joining us in this project–please contact me through my contact page for details how you can get started. (Please be patient with my response time though–it may be later tonight before I can respond as we have a big day today for Isaac at the ENT).
If you don’t have time to sew OR time to host a party—but you would like to give financially toward the hefty overnight pads that we will be purchasing for each girl (the overnight pad for each girl will be the only thing purchased) OR you would like to donate toward someone who DOES want to sew but needs to be reimbursed for fabric costs–then feel free to scroll down to our “nets fundraiser” post and donated through Paypal there. In the notes section please write “sanitary pads”.
One thing at a time folks!!!
And tomorrow I’ll share more about how we are going to run our pad party. Hey…we call it what it is;). I’ll also post details about how to make the pads–what you will need–and how much you will need of each thing. I will also include deadlines, where they need to be shipped to when completed, etc. Today–please pray about helping in this project. Brainstrom throughout the day WHO you could ask to join you.
Finally—stay tuned for “Opernation Silent Night” which will not only provide the orphans at Wiphan a safe night’s sleep…but also spare their lives in more than one way!!! Stay tuned!!! Isn’t it so MUCH FUN to make a difference and be used for His glory?! And as always—feel free to share these projects with your world of friends and family!!! It’s going to be amazing to see the difference we make when we come together as the body of Christ and just roll with it!!!
Hope you all have a happy Thursday!!!
Leave a Reply