From the Days For Girls twitter account (3rd July)
DfG is taking our commitment to #SustainableDevelopment to the next level with a new system for serving women & girls! From now on, our global network will be divided into 3 "zones" based on Enterprise presence with a different kit distribution policy for each zone Under the new policy, Enterprises will always supply #MHH kits/education where possible & donations will only go to Enterprise-free zones. This is a huge milestone in our journey to reach #EveryGirlEverywherePeriod with longterm, self-sustaining access to #menstrual care
I know there has been a lot of confusion and even anger regarding the new DFG policy. It seems it was sprung on us without warning and we feel disappointed we weren't even consulted.
I'm not sure what happened as I was as much in the dark as everyone else!
For some reason there was a breakdown in communication….. but lets move on and to do this I think it would help us if we understood the reasoning for the new model which is as follows, as I understand it.
Making and sending kids was always meant to be a stopgap.
There is no way we, in the West by making and sending kits across the world could meet all the needs, of all the girls.
But this is Celeste’s vision.
Every girl, everywhere, period
So the aim has always been for individual countries to become self supporting, for them to move away from dependency to sustainability. A really important concept.
What we have not been privy to is all the work being done behind the scenes, with Governments and local leaders. The kits we’ve already sent over the years have provided much of the evidence needed to prove that when girls have access to reliable feminine hygiene products they stay in school. This helps not only the individual girls but actually benefits the whole community, a totally win, win situation.
We know the enterprises were set up to start meeting local needs and also to create employment etc. They've taken awhile to get established. However in the countries in the red zone they are now ready to move forward and expand but and this is the problem; the 2 models, the enterprises verses our distributions are now clashing and the situation has reached a tipping point! When we provide “free” kits this can have a seriously detrimental effect on the enterprises.
For example; an enterprise received an order for 3000 kits, very exciting for them, they took on more women to help fulfil this order, this gave local women skills and a much needed income. Then before the order could be fulfilled, 100 kits were distributed somewhere nearby. When the organisation ordering the kits heard about this and realised they could save their money, they immediately cancelled the order, they decided to go and seek out where they could get hold of these ‘free’ kits and save their money. A really terrible blow to all the women involved! 100 girls benefited from kits but sadly 3000 girls lost out as well as the women and their families who lost employment.
This clearly demonstrates the importance of working with Days for Girls regarding all our distributions. We don't ever, ever want our good intentions to cause harm.
Our aim must be for bigger long-term goals which are locally lead, which is the only way every girl will be reached and this is starting to happen.
For example in Uganda the government has given a contract for 90,000 kits and this will just be for starters!
There are other developments in other countries as well.
I feel we must trust Celeste for this next stage, her passion and desire to provide kits for every girl, everywhere has always been the driving force behind Days for Girls.
So please
1 Any distributions planned for a country in the Red Zone but delayed due to Covid please contact DFG international to work out how it can be accomplished without having a negative effect on the enterprises.
2 Countries in the Orange Zone may still require kits but as above, seek advice.
3 If you support a particular school or community in the red or orange zone contact DFG as how best to proceed. No one is expected to break relationships built up over years.
4. If you wish to order kits please do it through DFG not direct with the Enterprises. Cost of kits covers material and wages and individual enterprises will receive full amount.
4 Lots of girls will require our kits so lets work to develop links with organisations and charities in the Blue Zone countries.
I hope this goes some way in answering some of our the questions.
Hope this helps x
Our situation
So: we know that Kenya has Local Enterprises - Briege even visited one -, so I think the above means that Kenya is 'off limits'. I suggest that our Stitch group carries on making (when we can meet together again) and we will wait for someone to put kits requests on FB and we will send what we can. Although we have distributed some kits previously we knew that realistically that was a one off so are happy to make but not distribute in future.
Never forget Briege's message "One kit can change a life"
The link for impact zones is here: hthttps://www.daysforgirls.org/?s=impact+zones
