Days for Girls is a non-profit organization that helps girls stay in school and retain dignity, giving back important days of their lives. Most girls in developing countries miss up to five days of school each month during their periods; many eventually drop out.

In areas where women have been taught that menstruation is a curse and a reminder that they are somehow less, DFG is helping them to remember that their bodies are their own, and that they are worthy of health, opportunity and dignity.

Days for Girls makes high-quality feminine hygiene kits that help to empower and inform girls, women, and communities by providing sustainable feminine hygiene information and supplies.

CONTACT THE CHAPTER NEAREST YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH LOCAL EVENTS.

Southern Utah contact:
Demaree Johnson, Leader - stgeorgeut@daysforgirls.org
435 229-0204

For more information about Days for Girls, please see daysforgirls.org

What's in the days for girls kit?

THE INNOVATION OF A DAYS FOR GIRLS KIT

• Culturally appropriate: Provides the solution women and girls ask for.

• Easy to dry outside: Doesn’t look like a typical pad, so women are not embarrassed.

• Environmentally friendly: Uses less water, and doesn’t create waste like disposable pads.

• Durable: It last for 3 years.

A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN THREE YEARS…
Every Washable Feminine Hygiene Kit lasts up to three years. A lot can happen in three years. In that time, a girl can become educated. A woman can provide for her family. The cycle of poverty can be broken. A girl will gain back 180 days of school. That’s 180 days of education, health, safety and dignity.

EDUCATION FOR GIRLS: Girls worldwide suffer indignities, infection, even exploitation trying to stay in school. After distribution of Days for Girls kits, school absence rates dropped IN KENYA 25% T0 3% and IN UGANDA 35% TO 8%.

DIGNITY: Around the world, girls and women without pads use rags, mattress stuffing, banana leaves, feathers, and cow dung to manage their menstruation. In India, 1 in 4 girls drop out of school when they start menstruating Days for Girls has reached over 100 countries on 6 continents, serving over 400,000 women & girls…and counting! Every Girl in the world deserves education, safety, and dignity.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
DONATE AND SEW KIT ELEMENTS
FUNDS AND ITEMS ACCEPTED DURING THE QUILT WALK FESTIVAL.

DONATE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

FABRIC
The Girls love color! Fabric type, color, and design is VERY IMPORTANT. Use pretty, bright and colorful fabric which young girls will fall in love with! Bright and colorful fabrics will also disguise stains.

FABRIC FOR LINERS: Quality, durable 100% cotton flannel – No bed sheets! Appealing Medium/Dark colors with patterns that help hide stains (fabric can have some lighter colors in a pattern). Botanical, geometric, batik, etc. patterns are best. No light-colored fabrics that will easily show stains. No prints with a face/eyes (animals, fish, people, etc.) No insects or snakes (butterflies without face/eyes are okay) No Camouflage/Guns/Hunting. No solid saffron yellow fabric (the color of Monk’s robes), yellow in patterns is okay No fabric with suggestive words Avoid National flag patterns.

FABRIC FOR SHIELDS: Good quality 100% cotton woven fabric, similar to quilter’s cotton. No knits, flannels, corduroy, or home décor fabric. Pick colorful stain-busting fabrics, preferably botanicals, geometrics and batiks. Prints are preferred. Fabrics should be medium to dark in color to disguise stains. Some prints are offensive or illegal in some communities. Prints with people, animals, faces and figures cannot be sent to Muslim countries. NO camouflage fabrics as there are illegal in many countries. Fabrics with food, bugs, reptiles, guns, knives, culture-specific themes as well as girly-glam should be avoided. Bugs, reptiles and animals are predators in some areas; fabrics including these are uncomfortable for girls to wear and use. Butterflies are okay.

FABRIC FOR DRAWSTRING BAGS: Use quality materials (good quality quilter’s cotton). Fabric may be 100% cotton or poly-cotton blend. Use bright, colorful, pretty, washable fabric. Do not use anything with animals, reptiles, war, camouflage, glam, bugs, knives or anything culturally-specific; these items are forbidden in some cultures, as well as inappropriate in many others. Florals and geometrics are best. Bags must last three years of daily use (the girls use them every day, not only a few days each month).

Does it really matter how they look?
A: Yes, because she not only will count on it, she will frequently have it with her. No, it doesn't have to be beautiful to be functional, but she notices and appreciates when the kit is beautiful and that helps break shame and stigma.

WASHCLOTHS: Brightly colored inexpensive commercially-made washcloths which dry quickly and are not so plush as to add excessive weight and bulk. These can be purchased at Walmart or other similar stores and usually come in a multi-pack. If there are some white washcloths in the package, it is okay. These will be taken out and dyed a bright color.

PANTIES: Girls size 10, 12, 14 or 16—purchased in the GIRLS department (not junior’s or women’s). Brightly colored is best. Preferably a cotton blend brief (nylon causes chafing). No thongs, bikini, or boy shorts. No faces or animal prints. It is okay if there are some white panties in a multi-pack. We dye the white panties to help hide stains.

If you are interested in sewing for Days for Girls, go to daysforgirls.org and click on volunteer.