Ok this may strike you as an odd topic to blog about but bare with me:  

In a country which we are completely spoiled for choice in everyway, I am certain that none of us have given much (if any) thought to the immense difference that sanitary pads can make in the lives of women, much less how they can affect access to a good education. I wanted to share an exert from the newsletter of my good Friends at Operation Hope, and the fantastic work they are doing in providing acess to sanitary products for women living in extreem poverty and the huge affect that it has on thier ability to gain a good education. 

This is fascinating - read on…

Exert from Operation Hope Summer 2011 Newsletter:

In developing countries, millions of girls are unable to afford sanitary pads.

This forces them to miss 3-5 days of school during their monthly periods.

Some drop out, compromising their education and future. Operation

Hope believe all girls should be free to lead healthy, happy lives, with

access to a decent education.

Operation Hope has been able to source a local manufacturer in Sri Lanka

and hope to make the pads at a reduced price while still maintaining

fairtrade practices. It is planned to employ poor women in Swaziland and

Sri Lanka to sew the Freedom Kit bags creating local employment.

‘Freedom Kits’ are packed with reusable sanitary pads

(that last up to 18 months) and other essential sanitation

products including soap, underwear and

information on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Through ‘Operation Sister Act’ we hope to keep girls in

school, educate them on HIV/AIDS prevention and encourage local and

sustainable job development. Chris and Fiona will be heading to Sri Lanka in early February to

start the pad production, implement a pilot trial in a small rural school and source

someone to oversee the project and sewing of the bags. From there they

will travel to Swaziland for several months to run small pockets of training

in the communities they have been working in, and give out the African

made supplies that many donors have already contributed to. They will

return to Sri Lanka in June to evaluate the pilot trial and then make plans

for future development. For $20 you can purchase a Freedom Kit and help a young girl stay in

school and claim her independence.

For more information or to participate in this fantastic work contact Operation Hope - Australia

p: 039704 1023

m: 0432 897 537

e: cfgrech@gmail.com

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