What comes to mind with the needs of the third world? Those things likely include food, water, shelter, employment, and better education. Programs around the world sprung up to meet those needs, such as building wells or sending shoes. Trena Webb, and ladies at United Methodist Church (UMC) in Pace took on a project for a need touching the heart of human dignity: lasting feminine hygiene solutions. Not only do women in Kenya lack access to these products ubiquitous around the world, but Webb said girls miss a week of school every month during their menstruation.
During what Webb estimated would be the last necessary day, Monday, ten UMC ladies cut and sewed cloth sanitary shields for women. The shield has a moisture resistant interior, snaps to secure it to underwear, and pockets to hold a liner.
Webb said six women with UMC already had planned the October mission trip to Kenya, under Project 82, an organization dedicated to orphans in Kenya. Their mission “is to be the evidence of God’s grace and perfect love to orphans in Kenya. We protect, shelter, clothe, feed, educate, disciple and support the precious children of Kenya in an environment of family and community.”
Since three of the ladies going were registered nurses, Webb said they should look into the health needs of Kenya. “We found they had no sanitary products,” she said. This was when they discovered Days for Girls International (DfG), whose vision is for “every girl and woman in the world with ready, feasible access to quality, sustainable hygiene and health education by 2022.” Webb said education for girls is not valued as highly as it is for boys in Kenya. According to DfG, girls miss up to two months of school every year due to a lack of feminine hygiene products.
UMC is not the only group involved in the effort for the trip in October. Webb said a sewing group called Dorcas is also sewing shields and liners and Chumuckla Community Church is making tote bags women can use to carry their supplies
Going with Webb and the other five members of her team will be 100 kits made up of eight liners, two shields, two pairs of panties, a washcloth, soap, bag, and instructions. Webb said, “We had to take the wrapper off the soap,” since waste disposal is far superior in America. “It’s a different world,” she said. The kits the women are making, she said, will last about three years.
Click here for Webb's description of their efforts.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: UMC sewing for women of Kenya (with VIDEO)