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What is Days for Girls( DfG)?
Days for Girls( DfG) stands for the productive days given back to girls with the use of a washable feminine hygiene kit. DfG provides a hand crafted, washable kit to help girls manage their menstrual cycle.
The response has been over-whelming as girls are given these life-changing kits. Cultural taboos are being addressed and women are given the means to manage, with dignity, their menstrual cycle.
Days for Girls was started by Celeste Mergens from America in 2008 following experiences she saw firsthand in Kenya. Days for Girls Australia was then started by Gloria Buttsworth of Newcastle in 2012 following a visit to Uganda.
DAYS FOR GIRLS GOSFORD NORTH SEWING TEAM In 2014, Deidra Groppenbacher discovered Days for Girls at an International Rotary Conference held at Homebush. Deidra along with Dee Barham went on to commence Gosford North Sewing Team in July 2014 through their Inner Wheel Club of Gosford North.
The team recently produced their 5,000th kit. Each kit consists of the sewing of 11 items which are made by volunteers who work from home and bring their“ homework” to our packing days( every 5-6 weeks) held in the Kariong Somersby Rotary Hall.
Every DfG sewing team is self-funded and must fundraise to supply all fabric and items to produce these kits. Our kits have been distributed to Fiji, Vanuatu, Cambodia, Congo, Ethiopia, Burma, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, PNG, Tanzania, Kenya, Nepal, India, East Timor, West Timor, Phillipines and Pakistan. Distribution is mainly by Rotary, Church groups and Mid- Wives East Timor. We have 3 satellite groups on the Coast and supply them with material etc. to produce kits. Days for Girls Australia became a registered charity in March this year and our DFG Gosford North Sewing Team now operates independently of the Inner Wheel Club of Gosford North.
This allows us to issue tax-deductible donation receipts. We are available as guest speakers to speak about Days for Girls.
If you wish to know more about us or make a donation please email Dee or Deidra at gosfordnorthnsw @ daysforgirls. org
46 KIDZ ON THE COAST