DAYS FOR GIRLS CANADA TEAM
THE FIGHT AGAINST PERIOD POVERTY: DAYS FOR GIRLS CANADA TAKES CHARGE BY JILLIAN JOHNSTON, CANADIAN ADVOCACY COORDINATOR
She
DAYS FOR GIRLS KITS ALWAYS MAKE THE GIRLS CHEER!
said, “They’re washable.” The anticipation in the crowded room was palpable, and nearly a hundred pairs of eyes were on me, awaiting my response. One of the girls had brazenly bolted from her seat to shout out her exclamation, and Jenny, my Haitian translator, had just told me the meaning of the Creole words the girl had shamelessly shouted. I was holding up a Days for Girls Menstrual Hygiene Kit for them to see, and now in the total silence of the room, in response to the one voice that had put all of their hopes into words, I answered those inquiring eyes. “Yes,” I nodded, “They are washable.”
There was no need for translation. There was an explosion of joy in the room as the girls cheered, waving their arms and grinning enormous grins. They knew that the DfG Kits would be life-changing! By the end of our session, every girl in the room had her DfG Kit. They carefully counted components and practiced folding and inserting liners into shields. They delighted in the new panties and the clean new washcloth. They marvelled at their new ability to change pads at school and keep the soiled ones in the small leakproof bags. Then they ever so carefully tucked everything back into position in their new drawstring bags.
AND THAT’S HOW IT IS WITH DAYS FOR GIRLS. EVERY GIRL. EVERYWHERE. PERIOD. 30
