Generosity Flows: April 2008

Monday, April 28, 2008

The girls

(click photo to enlarge)
Tukano, Aziza,Madina, Hawa, Amina, Hawa, Arbay

Until now, readers of this blog may have felt that our cause has involved faceless girls who seem more like an abstract idea than real teens struggling to live in two cultures simultaneously. They are real, they do have faces, and they are not nameless.

These are faces of potential and hope. This is what beauty, intelligence, and a life of possibilites look like. These are the girls we're helping with this site.

It's a Girl Thing

You've seen the commercials--a young girl in Africa misses school one week out of the month because she doesn't have money to buy pads when she has her period.

The truth is, this situation isn't unique to Third World countries. In the United States, plenty of teen girls are in the same situation.

Each year, thousands of refugees flee their countries seeking safe haven. The challenge doesn't end when a refugee reaches friendly shores. Imagine the immense learning curve that comes from starting over, learning a new language, surviving a new culture.

Now, imagine doing this in the hostile world of middle school. Remember middle school? Now, think what it's like if your mother can't tell you anything about tending to your period because she, herself, has never used current methods to do so. Think about what it might be like to negotiate puberty and to start your period without having access to any Kotex/Always/Stayfree product.

So...you miss school when you have your period and you fall behind even farther than you already were, given the language and literacy hurdles. You go from not fitting in to being all but disconnected. You have nobody to talk to.

Let's take up a collection...Maxi Pads can make the world a better place for disadvanted girls. It's a weird, maybe radical idea, but it's not impossible.

Let the generosity flow.

DONATE!!!

What can you do to help? Donate! Donate packages of maxi-pads, mini-pads, or gift certificates for Walgreens, Target, or Walmart. We'll use 100% of a gift certificate's value to buy supplies for the girls. NO TAMPONS!

What else? Encourage companies like Procter & Gamble to expand their Protecting Futures program to help girls here at home.

Send donations to:
A Little Something
PO BOX 102077
Denver, CO 80250

or

A Little Something
1532 Galena St. #200
Aurora, CO 80010

We can also use manufacturer's coupons for maxi-pads and panty-liners. Tampons are not an option for the cultures we serve.

Thanks!!

Generosity Flows

Monday, April 28, 2008

The girls

It's a Girl Thing

Be heard. Contact the manufacturers.

DONATE!!!

Donate via PayPal

Who taught you about your period?

What is your preferred brand of period supplies?

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