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Spreading the gospel around the world one stitch at a time
Special to the Daily Mail
During the summer months more than 24 women from the First Baptist Church work diligently helping to assist young girls during their menstrual cycle all over the world, Becky Chandler told the Nevada Lions Club during a recent meeting. A few years ago several women felt the calling to reach out to young women in order to give them a better quality of life by being able to attend school and not to be punished because they are women and have female issues every month. In some countries young ladies are required to not be seen outside of their home during this time of the month. We live in a country that is so blessed sometimes we take even the smallest things for granted.
Only 2 percent of women in India use sanitary products during their menstrual cycle. Nine of every 10 women instead use rags, plastics, sand and ash to manage their period. This leads to pain, infection and maternal health complications, along with embarrassment and lowered self-esteem. Many women suffer through an "unclean" period in which they limit their interactions with others, withdraw from whatever work or school they may have, and suffer through the emotional pain associated with the absence of basic human dignity.
All because these women cannot access, or afford, a basic health product that has been used in the developed world for generations. While this 2 percent use rate for sanitary products in India may be among the lowest rates in the developing world, the number of women who aren't using products like sanitary pads in other countries is equally staggering.
Hundreds of millions of women cannot access an affordable health care product that most of the developed world takes for granted. More than 100 countries have identified this as an important public health issue in their country.
For young women, and for girls in particular, the lack of sanitary product use leads to much higher school absence and drop-out rates that in turn leads to further economic hardship, and dis-empowerment.
In India, it's estimated that girls lose more than 50 days to absences each school year related to their periods, and a dropout rate among young girls of nearly 25 percent is largely attributed to this problem. The sanitary pad "gap" is clearly a major global development problem.
Chandler said, "Kits for Girls" is a group of 24 women meeting together to cut, sew and organize a package of garments that enable girls to attend school every day of the month. Approximately 400 kits have been sent to Africa, India and Nicaragua over the past three years.
Having an education gives girls a value and esteem not only to themselves but also to their communities. Girls who are educated can get jobs and make choices. Girls want to stay in school each day of the month. If they must stay home they are isolated during those five days and the girls fall behind in their studies. Very few girls have money for disposable pads. Girls resort to leaves, moss, grass and whatever they can find in nature to manage their period. Leaves, moss and grass result in infections.
Each kit includes two shields, eight flannel liners, soap, wash cloth, two pairs of underwear and a drawstring handbag to carry to school each day. Girls are taught how to use and clean the shields and liners. The girls are given a biology lesson to explain this time of the month. The girls appreciate these colorful shields and liners. They ask, "Why do women in America make these for us?" The answer is that we serve a loving God who wants us to love others.
In 2016, the women who work with "Kits for Girls" made 200 kits. The cutting required for 200 kits is: 3200 flannel pieces, 800 pocket pieces, 800 shield pieces, 400 plastic pieces and 200 handbag pieces. Many hours of cutting and sewing go into this project.
Ellen Dean and her husband, Steve, have been instrumental in traveling to the various countries to deliver the "Kits for Girls" and giving health education presentations on how to use the kits.
Dean said help is needed.
How can you help "Kits for Girls"?
1. They need people to cut out material and put together patterns for sewing.
2. They need people who can sew the quilt themes together.
3. They need donated material for making the products: 100 percent cotton, 100 percent dark colored flannel, and polyurethane laminate fabric (PUL).
4. They need lots of prayer
For more information or to offer to help, contact: Becky Chandler at 417-448-4390 or Ellen Dean at 417-448-7320. They usually start meeting weekly beginning early June until September.