International charity Days for Girls donates new underwear, face washers, soap and washable pads for girls on their periods. A group of women, including Taree’s Karenne Norling and Australia’s Days for Girls co-ordinator Gloria Buttsworth, travelled to Uganda to meet some of the girls benefiting from the program.

Karenne said, “it’s life changing”.  

“Before, girls would actually have to miss school when they had their periods. 

“That’s one week every month, it stops them learning, and can effect their career paths.” 

Gloria, who is previously from Moorland, said at one boarding school in Uganda there was a 25 per cent drop out rate for girls. In 12 months the rate dropped to 5 per cent. 

“There education is so important to them because they know it is their chance to get out of poverty,” she said.

 The group visited Bwindi High School where they met with girls and distributed the packs.

“It was just beautiful,” said Gloria. “There was so much excitement and joy, they couldn’t wait to open their bags.” 

A Days for Girls office has also been established in the capital city of Uganda. The office employs Ugandan women, who on top of creating the packs, deliver programs on puberty, and self-defence in the case of domestic violence. 

Charity ‘Ride 4 a Women’, which teaches income-generating skills at the Bwindi Women’s Community Centre, also sew the pads. 

Gloria said, since bringing Days for Girls to Australia four years there has been a huge outpouring of compassion and generosity.

“The thing is, it’s something we don’t even think about, we couldn’t imagine not having access to pads at the supermarket. It’s creating a conversation in aid groups who are now asking, why do the girls go missing? What do they need?” 

Karenne is part of the Manning chapter of Days for Girls. In recent years local women have donated their time and materials to create the pads from flannelette with a rubberised material for the pad liner. 

Karenne will share stories and photos from her experience in Uganda at an afternoon tea on July 9 from 2pm at Coopernook Uniting Church Hall.

The event is sponsored by Sunrise on Manning Rotary Club a satellite club of Taree on Manning Rotary Club. The cost is $15 per person with money going towards Days for Girls. RSVP to Karenne Norling on 0407 000 964 or karennetravels@gmail.com 

To donate locally contact Katie Nolan on 0419 246 546.