A Sustainable Menstrual Health SolutionDays for Girls International

Elizabeth Rakich, Taylor Holleschau & Allie CostelloDepartment of Social Work, Carthage College

Celebration of Scholars 2014: Exposition of Student & Faculty Research, Scholarship &Creativity

Results and DiscussionThis issue is one of the keys to social change. By providing sustainable menstrual kits, we are giving years of life back to many girls

around the world and breaking the poverty cycle. The Days for Girls Kenosha Wisconsin Chapter has assembled a total of 65 kits

since its establishment of January 1, 2014. The feminine hygiene kits will be distributed to girls in Ghana, Africa in April 2014.

•Days for Girls International washable feminine hygiene kits last up to 3 years and have been proven in 31 nations on 6 continents,

thanks to thousands of volunteers worldwide.

•It is estimated that over 50,000 kits have been distributed as a direct result of Days for Girls International.

•Designed with thousands of women’s feedback, the kits are uniquely suited to women’s needs, giving more days of comfort, health,

education and dignity.

•Dignity Presentations accompany kits with instructions for use and care of kits, health, hygiene, safety, and sanitation as well as

important reproductive health, rape, FGM, and self-defense discussions.

•In-country sewing cooperatives manufacture these washable kits, supporting local economy.

AbstractDays for Girls International is a non-profit organization that empowers girls around the world by direct distribution of

sustainable feminine hygiene kits that can last up to 3 years. By partnering with nonprofits, groups and organizations,

raising awareness, and more importantly Days for Girls helps impoverished communities start their own programs to

supply kits and training. Without proper feminine products, these girls can miss up to 5 days of school a month or even

drop out of school at an early age. To compensate for the lack of products, girls in these countries often use rags,

newspaper and even corn husks to accommodate their menstrual cycles. This can often lead to infection, disease and

HIV. Through officially starting the Days for Girls Kenosha, Wisconsin Chapter, we have successfully sewed and

assembled 65 feminine hygiene kits to be distributed.

Why Girls?•Girls who have sanitary hygiene are more confident in school and more likely to graduate.

•For every year of education a girl receives, her future income increases.

• When a girl has 7 or more years of education, she marries 4 years later and passes on her knowledge and strength.

•She will speak up for herself & others and contribute to her community.

•Girls are often exploited in exchange for hygiene to keep them in school.

•Every girl in the world deserves education, safety, and dignity.

By keeping girls in school beyond grade 7 they would be:

•More likely to marry 4 years later

•Less likely to die in childbirth/pregnancy

•More likely to have an average of 2.2 fewer children

•More likely to have healthier children

•More likely to send their children to school

The GoalThe goal is for every girl and women in the world to have access to their choice of feminine hygiene by 2022. The

Days for Girls kit design as shown in Figure 2, is the result of feedback from women all over the world. Listening is

an approach that results in solutions that work It is important, because every washable feminine hygiene kit gives back

up to 6 months of living in just 3 years of use; 180 days of education, health, safety and dignity*.

* Based on 5 lost days per month.

A Sustainable Plan of ActionDays for Girls furthers this goal by helping girls who would otherwise go without to have access to quality sustainable

feminine hygiene and awareness. Days for Girls accomplishes this through both direct distribution with many

nonprofits, by raising awareness, by helping other organizations start their own programs and helping impoverished

communities start their own programs to supply kits and training. The diagram shown below in Figure 1, depicts the

Days for Girls vision to sustain and replicate the program.

Figure 1. Days for Girls Sustainable Plan of Action

Figure 2. Days for Girls Sustainable Hygiene Kit

Acknowledgements & ReferencesThis research was made possible by the work of Days for Girls International, Carthage College Department of Social Work,

Carthage College Clausen Center, and Director Art Cyr of the A.W. Clausen Center for World Business. A special thanks goes to

Social Work faculty advisors Danielle Geary, APSW & Ruth Fangmeier, DSW.

1. Days for Girls International, 2014. www.daysforgirls.org

2. Girls not Brides, 2013. http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/themes/education/

3. UNESCO,2013.http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ED/GMR/images/2011/girls

4. UNESCO,2012.http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/

5. Women Deliver, 2014. http://www.womendeliver.org/knowledge-center/publications/invest-in-girls-and-women-everybody-

wins-2014/

2 Ziploc Gallon Bags

Effective for

transporting soiled

items and soaking and

laundering items with

very little water.

8 Absorbent Tri-fold Liners

Soft flannel liners are super

absorbent when folded in three and

can be layered for extra coverage.

Unfolded they are square so they

dry fast and wash with very little

water, and girls can dry them

without risking taboos.

1 Pair of Panties

(Girls Size 10-16)

1 Washcloth1 Visual Instruction Sheet

1 Travel-sized Soap

Travel-sized to save

transport weight.

2 Moisture Barrier Shields

These hold liners

comfortably in place while

stopping leaks.

1 Drawstring Bag

she can carry her

bag to school.

Comfort, style and

durability matter

because this will be

an accessory of hers

for up to 3 years.