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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Anyone want to donate san pro for girls in Kenya?

27 replies

MmeLindor · 15/01/2013 11:45

Girls in many African countries don't go to school when they have their period because they don't have sanitary protection.

This is one of the factors that leads to girls dropping out of school earlier than boys, despite them leading the class for years before.

I'm organising a box of san pro to be sent to women and girls I met last year when I was there blogging for Mumsnet and the Gates Foundation.

blog here

Am also looking into some long term solutions that might be interesting.

If you are interested, post here or PM me.

OP posts:
Original poster
MmeLindor · 15/01/2013 11:46

Ps
This is the last call - sending the box in the next week or so

Thanks for all who have already promised to contribute.

OP posts:
Greythorne · 15/01/2013 15:13

Can we send £ to you instead?
I am on France

Original poster
MmeLindor · 15/01/2013 15:45

Yes, of course. If you follow the link on the blog to Jump! Mag and make a donation through the paypal link at the bottom of the page. I'd rather do that than put it through my personal paypal account, and then it get muddled with my money.

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Original poster
MmeLindor · 15/01/2013 15:45

Whoops. And thank you Thanks

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sleepyhead · 15/01/2013 16:11

I've made a small donation via the Jump! link.

What are the specific issues here do you think? Is it the price of disposables such as tampons/towels?

Are reusables not available or is there a washing/hygeine issue preventing their use?

Taboos around menstruation?

It seems like something that should be fairly easily solved (eg women's collective making reusable towels funded by donations/subsidised if not possible to make cheap enough for local use), but presumable it's A Bit More Complicated Than That... these things usually are.

Original poster
MmeLindor · 15/01/2013 16:43

Thanks, Sleepyhead.

(you have a gorgeous name, btw)

Yes, you are right - it is one of those seemingly simple issues that is actually quite complicated when you get into it.

It is a combination of issues. For one thing, these are girls from extremely poor families - and the price of disposables is simply too high. Some families can't even afford to send their children to school, let alone 'luxuries' like san pro.

There are a few NGOs working in this area - teaching women to make reusables for example, which gives them both an income and provides a long term solution. I am in touch with one of them and am thinking if there is a way to support them on a regular basis.

The CDC are conducting research in Kenya to see if mooncups would be an alternative - although there are some cultural barriers to this, and of course the hygiene issue. They are hoping to find out more about these issues, and how girls get on with them.

I have also heard of a company that make menstrual cups in Kenya - providing employment to Kenyans and a good alternative to expensive disposable san pro.

I will be writing an indepth piece about this soon.

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Heavywheezing · 15/01/2013 16:47

I would like to send some. It's an issue I've thought about. What would you like us to do?

Original poster
MmeLindor · 15/01/2013 18:02

Heavy
Either buy san pro (and some knickers if you would like to send them too) and send them to me - PM me for address. Or donate via the Jump! Mag website - link at the bottom of blog.

Thanks, that is very kind of you.

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nextphase · 16/01/2013 09:32

In the post, Mme.
As a side point, what DO the ladies use when they are at home ie what do they use during their period that isn't suitable for school use?

Original poster
MmeLindor · 16/01/2013 10:03

Thanks, Nextphase.

They use anything they have - which could be torn up rags or old blankets, bits of mattresses, even leaves and mud which they put inside their vaginas. (sorry to be so graphic, but this is the reality for these women).

Obviously, the danger of infections is high.

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rubyslippers · 16/01/2013 10:07

i would definitely like to send some San Pro
do you need towels and tampons?

Original poster
MmeLindor · 16/01/2013 10:29

Towels only please - some parents have issues with tampons, believing that it means that the girls are no longer virgins. It is one of the reasons that the mooncup might not work in some communities.

Thanks, Ruby. DM me for the address.

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Greythorne · 16/01/2013 22:45

Just made a donation on the Jump Mag site.

Bon courage.

Original poster
MmeLindor · 16/01/2013 23:29

Thanks, Grey. And to whoever else donated - there were two donations came through almost at the same time.

Am so pleased that you are all so supportive of this. I will be looking into a long term project with these girls, so if you would like to be involved, I will post here again.

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Original poster
MmeLindor · 18/01/2013 11:28

Postie struggled up my path with packages filled with san pro and pants for girls in Kenya. Thanks guys. pic here

ThanksThanksThanks

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rubyslippers · 18/01/2013 12:38

posting on Monday - bit snowy here!

Heavywheezing · 18/01/2013 19:20

I went out and bought some yesterday. Sorry I couldn't post today, I'll try again tomorrow. But I have got them!

AmericasTorturedBrow · 18/01/2013 19:26

Yes I def will, worked in Malawi for 6months where there were similar issues, and currently working on a project spreading awareness about a Zimbabwean woman who was chased out of the country for distributing sanitary products. She carries on her work from the UK as an asylum seeker...well done you

tribpot · 18/01/2013 19:31

Please keep posting - I'm about to donate via the blog. Poor postie must think you have the worst periods ever Wink

Is there no option to buy them locally (in the capital city?) rather than having to ship them from here? Or is that a daft question?

If there's one thing guaranteed to make a period worse it's having to manage it with some mud and leaves :(

Original poster
MmeLindor · 18/01/2013 19:56

Thanks to those who have donated - I think it would be good to send several packages - the value of the 'gift' should not be too high so they don't have to worry about customs charges.

I'm wondering whether to buy some washable pads with the donations - will ask what they'd prefer.

I'm overwhelmed by the great response. Thank you all Thanks

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swampster · 22/01/2013 10:17

I think what you are doing is brilliant. But are there really NO local manufacturers? The Guardian article someone linked to somewhere with regard to all this was very good.

I understand there could be resistance to menstrual cups and sponges, but promoting their use has got to be better than sending great wodges of pads half-way across the world?

Also washable pads are very effective and much nicer to use (As long as you can handle washing them - I wouldn't use any other kind now). And much better for the environment. And fairly easy to make yourself with fairly basic materials.

Wouldn't projects which help women to be self-sufficient be more useful?

Original poster
MmeLindor · 23/01/2013 00:09

Swampster
Yes, I will be looking into other options. It was not my intention to do this regularly, but to see if I can find other ways of helping the girls.

It is not simply a case of providing menstrual cups or sponges. You don't have to convince me to their advantages - I am long converted to mooncup usage. There are cultural issues that have to be addressed, and this doesn't happen overnight.

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Original poster
MmeLindor · 25/01/2013 12:52

Just to let you all know - I am still waiting on a couple of parcels, and can't get to the PO to pick them up cause of the snow. Should manage on Monday.

We raised just under £140, so will look into buying some reusables with that money. They are keen to try them out.

If they get on well with the reusables, I will look into funding a pack for them to make their own.

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swampster · 25/01/2013 23:12

How about getting in touch with the guys at Ruby Cup? They are made in Kenya.

In the UK, contact Teresa at Feminine Wear - she is brilliant on all things reusable-menstrual.

Once more, I think what you are doing is brilliant. It is exactly the type of thing I would like to be involved in. If I could keep my eyes open long enough between school runs.

Pictureperfect · 26/01/2013 00:00

Hi, so many people have gone off using always since they put perfume in there, maybe the threads complaining about them might have people who will donate their perfumed stock?