Goods 4 Girls
When I first read about the Goods 4 Girls program that Crunchy Chicken started, I was a little confused. I didn’t understand why Crunchy, in all of her green goodness, was sending reusable feminine hygiene products. Nor did I understand why this was a project for foreign countries when we probably have the same issues right here in the US.
After reading the information on the official G4G website, I realized that there was a HUGE need for the program. Here in the US, most schools have feminine hygiene products available to them on site. The young girls that are benefiting from this program have nothing available to them. They use whatever materials might be available including newspaper and old rags. These materials are not exactly reliable and make attending school (or doing any other public activity) while menstruating almost impossible.
The sewn materials that are provided by G4G prevent any issues with religious or cultural beliefs and traditions. This is very important - I don’t think a Diva Cup for young teenage girls would be accepted in a lot of cultures - similar to the concerns associated with tampons. The program takes sewn pads from supporters and gets them to the girls in need. This provides young women the opportunity to function normally, including uninterrupted participation in school. And, these are reusable products that don’t result in waste!
So visit the G4G site and get involved. This is a great program that is changing the world one pad at a time!
3 Responses to “Goods 4 Girls”
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I had the same thought when I first read about Crunchy’s program. There is more though. By providing reusable menstrual pads, Crunchy is helping keep girls in school longer. Educating women in Africa and other undeveloped countries helps to lower over population rates. Girls are in school so they do not get pregnant as soon. Further, they become educated and empowered and more able to speak up for, among other things, family size. Finally, women with an education have value beyond just child bearing and rearing. They are less likely to have as many children so that they can get back into the work force. By curbing overpopulation in these areas, it helps resource depletion, stability and such.
I had no clue about any of this until I read Common Wealth by Jeffrey Sachs. That really opened my eyes.
Great post. Thank you for spotlighting a very worthy endeavor.
Another benefit of G4G is that these young women are not being groomed as future consumers of disposable pads. In fact, it would be entirely possible for women to start their own reusable pad manufacturing coops, etc.
Awesome point, Rural Aspirations. I hadn’t thought of that one but there is an entrepenurial opportunity right there.