Let's do this again!!! #girlpower

 Several years ago I came upon a Instagram post that had a profound impact on me. 
I was made aware of the 

Kenya Drylands Education Fund 

(formerly The KERA Project) that was co-founded by Sarah Hadden, in Vermont, to help girls that live in extreme poverty in northern Kenya who do not have access to the most basic of sanitary products. 
KDEF provides menstrual hygiene kits to girls which contain 4 reusable menstruation pads, underwear (since many of the girls do not own underwear) and detergent - a kit will last each girl a year or more.  

Many girls are deprived of an education because of the lack of this basic necessity since going to school without any form of menstruation protection subjects them to the shame of staining their clothes.  Very often menstruation caused girls to miss school, drop out altogether and then to be married off at a young age.
Being one of millions who enjoy the the bountiful excesses of a lovely life in a free country, until I read about this fund it never even dawned on me that this is a need for these girls.  For a mere $25 your kindness will be giving the gift of personal hygiene to an impoverished girl for one year. 

Please... stop, think and take in the entirety of this situation for one single moment.  

can. you. even. imagine???????????????

To donate one Menstrual Hygiene Kit, or more!

Please click
HERE

When I first shared this with you you were all AMAZINGLY GENEROUS.  We raised enough funds to donate 250 kits!!!  I am hoping that this year we can beat that total!! 

Kenya Dryland Education Fund is a wonderful non-profit that has expanded to supporting High School Scholarships (If you'll recall, back in December I asked you to donate to a full 4-year secondary school scholarship for a deserving young girl, Catherine.  Myself and 49 readers donated a full 4-year scholarship for Catherine!), Mentoring Programs, and water and class rooms for their students and surrounding communities.  I hope you will take a look at their website to see all the amazing, important work they do.

From the KDEF website:

"KDEF is committed to supporting menstrual hygiene programs in schools by donating menstrual hygiene kits and providing training to school-going girls. Through the program, KDEF also offers instructional training on use and care for the hygiene kits.In this poverty-stricken part of the world, girls have limited access to sanitary products. Having protection during their monthly menstrual cycles is essential if females are to stay in school. With these kits, girls can attend school without interruption — no longer missing one week of classroom instruction every month. Girls can have a chance to achieve their full potential, getting the education they need to obtain jobs that contribute to the economic stability of their families and communities. 
The Deputy Headmistress of Korr Primary School reported that prior to 2014, 50% of her female students missed up to one week of school each month due to menstruation. After the kits were distributed, absenteeism dropped to 10%. The kits are an essential part of helping the girls be able to pass their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams in order to be able to go on to high school.
KDEF currently supports 32 primary schools in Marsabit and Samburu Counties of Northern Kenya – a 91,000 square kilometer area that is rural, remote, and impoverished." 

KDEF is a 501(c)3 organization, and Kenya NGO.  All donations are tax deductible.

KDEF also has a Guidestar Goldseal of Transparency for 2020.

Please join me in donating: 

HERE

All donatiIf you are more comfortable sending a check the address is:

KDEF

535 Prospect Street

Manchester, VT  05254 USA

Also, please share this post if you can.  What a wonderful gift it would be to have young girls/teenagers (it would make a great Senior Project!) who take this necessity as normal, or for granted, to see this need and want to help these girls who have so much less than they do too!

thank you. 
xxojoan

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” -Nelson Mandela