Life will be improved for girls in Uganda thanks to a community sewing day in Dilton Marsh.
Female pupils at Kabale School, in the southwest of the country, have been forced to miss classes during their period due to not owning sanitary products. But the introduction of reusable period pads by the Bristol-based charity Pachamama Project has provided a solution.
To bolster supplies, Holy Trinity Echo Church will be hosting its eighth ‘Sewing Day’ event on Saturday 15th March, at Dilton Marsh Memorial Hall. Locals have been encouraged to lend a hand for as little or as long as they’d like in support of the Pachamama Project.
Lynne Vercoe, team administrator at the White Horse Team Ministry, said, “The Project’s next distribution will be to Uganda, where they will be supporting school students to stop missing education because of their period. For the past year, they have been providing reusable period pads to girls there so they can continue going to school even when they have their period. 92% of the recipients of the pads said that before receiving the pads, their period impacted their school attendance. Now, thanks to the pads, 98% of their school attendance has improved. Nobody should have to miss out on education because of their period.
“The new year is the perfect time to pick up a new hobby. If you’d like to join us in ending period poverty one reusable pad at a time, come on the 15th March to Dilton Marsh Memorial Hall and find out more and how you can help. We will be there from 10am to 4pm. Come for as long as you can spare—half an hour, one hour, or all day. There are many ways you can help; you don’t have to be able to sew. Fabric needs cutting out and pinning, but if you do have a sewing machine, bring it along and help with one of the assembly stages. Instruction and help will be given.”
In the four years that Holy Trinity Eco Church has been supporting the work of the Pachamama Project, more than 3,000 pads have been made, which is enough to support 375 women out of period poverty. Most recently, pads created by the group have been sent to refugees in Lebanon.
Refreshments will be available on 15th March for the Sewing Day, but if you are staying all day, you might like to bring your lunch, organisers say.
If you would like more details, speak to Lynne Vercoe or email office@whtministry.org.uk.
Picture: the Pachamadma Project
