Prosperity Rings Links With Days for Girls

Tipped off by Prosperity Rings supporter Gini Bunnell, Nancy Pasternak attended a Days for Girls training and work session to create non-disposable sanitary napkin kits in Bellingham, Washington. She learned that these kits alleviate the stigma that makes girls and women in developing countries feel tainted and unclean during their menstrual periods.

Having learned how to tailor the non-disposable napkins at this session, Nancy decided to introduce the kits to the Prosperity Rings borrowers on her visit to India. She conducted three training courses at group meetings with SRIA (60 ladies present), SHWET (65), and ANISHA (23). The borrowers set about cutting and stitching the fabric we provided and were bursting with pride over their finished products — the liner and pads.

The response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic from those who do tailoring and from those who were eager to try using these non-disposable napkins. Many of the tailors wanted to begin right away stitching and selling this new product. Big problem: In the country where fabric reigns king, we could not find flannel — not anywhere in Southern India, a warm climate! Our search uncovered a source in Northern India.

At the discussion after the training, the ladies stated that these napkins would be more sanitary and convenient, save them money, and eliminate the embarrassment of purchasing and disposing of the napkins they were currently using. The discussion brought out issues of personal hygiene, respect and dignity for girls and women, and standing up for themselves against demeaning treatment — Prosperity Ring’s and DfG’s underlying message.