Sunday 26th April 2020

Hope     Dignity     Strength     Health     Education      Freedom     Empowerment     Liberty     Safety

Every Girl . Everywhere . Period

An important Notice from Mackay DfG Team Leader – Di Catto

Being in receipt of the letter below - it had come to my attention that Bridging Health Rockhampton has been able to gain approval to have a shipping container sent to Vanuatu…  

“We are sending a shipment of emergency donations to Vanuatu on the 20th May, for distribution to Tanna, Pentecost, Ambrym and Santo.

Tanna is our focal area, and so we need to fulfill our promise to continue distribution to students there as a priority.

However, with category 5 Cyclone Harold destroying much of the northern islands, we have had an appeal from our National Director of Operations, for kits for Ambrym, Pentecost and Santo, as sanitary supplies are not deemed at this stage to be 'essential' supplies.

I guess in the light of losing shelter, food and clean water sources, we do understand that efforts are directed to the greatest needs. We would love to fulfill Enneth's request for kits and can assure Days for Girls Teams that the kits will always be distributed along with education and instructions.

Many students have lost their schools, along with their homes in these northern regions, and as they find their feet, they will be learning under make-shift school shelters.

Everything stable and familiar has been ripped away. We want students in these villages to know that we recognise and know their needs and will provide them every opportunity to return to learning, and to access that learning without interruption, giving them the freedom to a full education.

The kits would be distributed alongside the donations and COVID19 instructions. Two more Ni Vanuatu Bridging Health leaders are preparing to complete the Men Who Know Course as well.

We have flipcharts in French and English. We have printed course manuals   for our leadership to go through, to allow our volunteer mentors on Ambrym, Santo and Pentecost (who don't have access to the online course) to complete training if more leaders are necessary.

Bridging Health Inc count it a privilege to distribute Days for Girls kits, and thank any teams able to send kits for this shipment.

We will be packing and locking the shipping container for transfer to Brisbane, between the 15-18th May. Any help would be greatly appreciated. “

At present, Days for Girls Mackay has 225 kits at hand. These were to go to the Solomon Islands as part of the 300 kits commitment, supported by the doTERRA Australia Grant we received at the end of 2019.
After discussions with the DfG Mackay Team Committee and the Queensland DfG Coordinator, the decision was made to send these kits to where they are most needed right at this present time, and that is Vanuatu!  

With the current world situation, it is not known when we will be able to distribute to other parts of the world which we have supported in the past. Therefore, the discussion came about, and the decision was to assist Vanuatu in its time of great need.

Via the wonders of modern digital technology, a call for assistance was made to other Days for Girls Groups – Australia wide. The response was totally overwhelming! Days for Girls Mackay’s shipment of DfG kits to Vanuatu will be supported by kits from, not just our two closest Queensland groups of  Rockhampton and Hervey Bay, but from Days for Girls groups from as far away as South Australia and Western Australia!

We are thinking that there would be - in excess of 1500 kits – on their way to Vanuatu in the very near future.

What an effort for Days for Girls – not just the Mackay Team, but Australia wide!

It can’t even be put into plain and simple words - how much our DfG Team work means to the women who receive a Days for Girls kit!

                                                                

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Hope     Dignity     Strength     Health     Education      Freedom     Empowerment     Liberty     Safety

Wednesday 1st April 2020

International Chapters & Teams Newsletter March 2020 Dear International Chapter and Team Leaders, We hope you and your families are safe and well during these challenging times internationally. You have all been in our thoughts. As we continue to navigate the unprecedented circumstances COVID-19 presents us, now more than ever, strength in our community and supporting each other is vital. All over the world, we are seeing DfG volunteers and leaders stepping up and responding in incredible ways. As always, we are touched and humbled by all you are doing to help lift and serve so many. As no two situations, cities, or countries are the same, we are grateful you are finding ways to meet unique needs in your communities. This month's newsletter is dedicated to highlighting these efforts and providing inspiration for what we can achieve, even from our own living rooms!  Stay safe and well, Leyla Isin-Xiong International Chapters Director Days for Girls International Chapters and Teams Meeting Local Needs During COVID-19 As disposable period products have become more scarce, Chapters and Teams have been letting their networks know that they have washable DfG PODs or Kits available and that their donations are welcome. Amazing work! Interested in doing this too? You may consider providing this tag. Please maintain social distancing, and encourage donations via a bank transfer or via your DfG Classy donation page (for USA).   Many Chapters and Teams have also been working with local shelters, food banks, or charities who need menstrual products. Interested in doing this too? Please call to confirm their needs and work to meet them. They may need pads, tampons, menstrual cups, our DfG Hybrid Kits, or a combination of different products. Note: This does not necessarily mean going to the store to buy menstrual products. If you have a stockpile of DfG supplies or other menstrual products, consider donating these while observing local advice for travel and movement. While education is typically a key component of our distributions, our volunteers' health is critical. As such, please just drop off donations and include the DfG Trifold available in the Chapter and Team Leadership Room or the new tag that explains how to care for it HERE. You can then explain to the local institution how to use Kits via email or phone. Thank you for your amazing efforts stepping up to meet the needs of menstruators in your communities during COVID-19. We know that periods don’t pause for pandemics and together we will continue to support each other and our communities! Offices and Enterprises COVID-19 Response Days for Girls Offices and Enterprises are at the forefront of continuing to meet the menstrual health needs of their communities. They have reported an increasing number of people turning to washables as a sustainable solution during this time of uncertainty. Below is a snapshot of their incredible efforts! DfG Uganda developed a short film about how to manage menstruation during a pandemic. The Public Affairs Department in the US Embassy in Uganda is sharing this widely on all its platforms. CLICK the photo to watch the video. DfG Offices and Enterprises are sharing and distributing the below poster and have partnered with many international and local organizations to share this as far and wide as possible (another pictorial focused version is also on the way!). Please help us in this effort by sharing these posters with your networks and connections locally and internationally. These will also be available in French and Spanish. Chipo Chikomo, a DfG Zimbabwe Enterprise Leader, is working in partnership with UNICEF to supply DfG Kits and face masks for UNICEFs COVID-19 programming. DfG Guatemala, DfG Ghana, DfG Nepal, and DfG Lebanon are meeting the need for face masks in their communities and promoting handwashing while continuing to offer and emphasize washable menstrual products. Masks 4 Millions Response *This section is not applicable to Australia Chapters and Teams. Please click HERE to read a letter from DfG Australia addressing the Australia context. This month, DfG launched the Masks4Millions Response. This response is addressing the shortage of face masks in many countries during COVID-19. Click HERE to read our FAQs. Thank you to the 3000 volunteers including many Chapters and Teams who are currently making a difference from their own homes! The response has been incredible! This response is for emergency situations. There are countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, where there is no shortage at present. Cloth masks are not the optimal solution and all medical and immune-compromised people should be prioritized to receive an N-95 supply. Unfortunately, in many countries, including the US, many hospitals and other medical facilities are low on or completely out of masks. Many are also able to put cloth masks over N-95 masks to extend their lifespan. Are you sewing masks? Please make sure you sign up HERE. As this is a rapidly evolving situation, make sure to regularly check your email for updates. Also, please work directly with hospitals, institutions, and those requesting masks to meet their specific needs. We have had hospitals provide exact patterns they need and some even provide the specific fabric they would like. Once you finish, take a photo and tag us at @daysforgirls using the hashtags #masks4millions and #padstomasks. Each day we continue to receive an increasing number of requests from hospitals, medical professionals, and immunocompromised individuals as the COVID-19 situation intensifies in many countries. Do you know an institution that needs masks? They can request them HERE. Thank you for all your efforts! In the News Chapter and Team Renewal On March 10, 2020, Chapters and Teams were emailed their 2020 Renewal Form. In acknowledgment of the impact of COVID-19, we will be extending the Renewal form due date. Your Renewal Form is now due by May 10, 2020. The renewal form was sent to your DfG email account. (Need help getting logged in to your account? No problem! Email chapters@daysforgirls.org for help or to have your password reset.)  Monthly Impact Report Thanks to everyone who turned in your Monthly Impact Report for February! Reports are due by the 15th of each month. The Monthly Impact Report is sent to your DfG email account on the first of each month. Need help getting logged in to your DfG email account? Contact chapters@daysforgirls.org. Thank you for helping us count your efforts!   2020 Regional Conferences Due to COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to postpone several DfG Regional Conferences (see below). We will continue to update you on this.   USA Utah Conference (Pleasant Grove, Utah) POSTPONED USA Northeast/Southeast Conference (Baltimore, MD) October 16-17, 2020 Canada (Kamloops, BC) September 19-21st, 2020 POSTPONED USA Southeast Conference (Nashville, TN) MERGED WITH NORTHEAST CONFERENCE New DfG Teams We are excited to recognize our newest Days for Girls Teams! These Teams have recently completed their training and have been upgraded from a Team-in-Training to a Team. Congratulations to the following:              How can we improve your International Chapter & Team Newsletter?   Give Feedback Copyright © 2019 Days for Girls International PO Box 2622 Mt Vernon, WA 98273   You have received this email because you are a registered Days for Girls Chapter, Team, or Club Leader. Make a meaningful donation to help us reach Every Girl. Everywhere. Period. Update your profile or unsubscribe from this list.