From Stigma to Dignity - Menstruation in Goma, DRC

URGENT UPDATE

Dear Supporter,

I am profoundly grateful for your kindness and support towards the campaign, From Stigma to Dignity, to provide feminine products for women and girls in Rusayo 1 displacement camp in Goma, DR Congo. Per our resources on the ground, the war and instability in the region and Goma in particular, has worsened for more than 180 days. Without hope for calm, let alone resolution, I am unable to guarantee safe manufacture and distribution, so I am RETURNING ALL DONATIONS AND ENDING THE CAMPAIGN. (Per GoFundMe Customer Care, this will take up to 7 business days)

Love and thanks for your willing generous spirit. Pray for our sisters in need in DR Congo.

Always,

Aba

My name is Aba Ifeoma, and I represent two not for profit organizations, Friends of the Congo and WWID/HFL, that work on the ground in DR Congo. I am also a member of the Congo Beehive Coalition. During our team’s visit to Goma summer of 2023, we were working on a beekeeping project and had the opportunity to visit Rusayo 1 displacement camp. This camp houses tens of thousands of people who are existing in cramped and barely survivable conditions.

Almost 9000 are menstruating women and girls.

I was struck by the thought of how they were managing their menstrual cycles every month.

We couldn't unsee the situation, and decided we need to provide some kind of intervention. This is where Days for Girls (DfG) comes in.

The Days for Girls Pad is a washable, reusable, and beautiful menstrual health product designed to last up to 3 years.

To address this critical issue, we are raising funds to purchase 9000 kits from Days for Girls for distribution in the Rusayo 1 displacement camp. The kit contains everything pictured below.

Each kit costs only $15, which is equivalent to the price of just 2 of your favorite coffee drinks. By supporting this cause, you can help change the trajectory of a girl’s education by enabling her to stay in school and empower a mother to be able to work every week and provide for her family.

One of the remarkable aspects of Days for Girls is that they use materials sourced locally, train and pay local seamstresses to make the products according to specifications. This approach not only ensures the availability of these essential products but also creates an income source within the community.

We invite you to join us in empowering and bringing dignity to the women and girls in Rusayo 1 displacement camp by generously supporting our initiative.