Benefiting Young Girls in Haiti

What is the Days for Girls Program?

Five years ago, a small team of St. Michael parishioners decided to get together to help the girls of Dos Palais, Haiti.  Learning more about the region and the need, the team was surprised to hear that most girls at St. Jean Baptiste School were staying home from school during their monthly menstrual cycles.  
 
By helping this community of girls in Dos Palais, we knew we could give them the freedom and self-esteem to get back to school and continue living their lives as normal.  These parishioners decided to take action and give the girls from St. Jean Baptiste School access to quality sustainable feminine hygiene products.  They began the process of making colorful, washable, cotton menstrual kits for these girls. These sturdy kits, designed to last three years, all contain:
 

• 1 drawstring bag
• 2 snap-on shields
• 8 flannel shield liners
• 2 pairs of underwear
• 1 washcloth
• 2 gallon-sized, resealable, and reuseable plastic bags for storing and washing the liners
• 1 bar of soap

Volunteers either sew or purchase all components of each kit, with the exception of the soap, which we buy in Dos Palais.
   
Thanks to these wonderful parishioners who had a vision years ago and to many other volunteers and supporters who have helped along the way, these kits have reached hundreds of girls in Dos Palais. 

In February of 2015, we brought 82 kits to distribute to the girls at the school.  Each pilgrimage since then, the St. Michael team brings 50 new kits for distribution.  In addition to distribution, we also provide education about the kits, instructions on how to use them, and guidance about self-care in a friendly, easygoing interactive environment. 
This program is now well-established in Haiti, and so we are working to slowly transition the ownership of the program to the village of Dos Palais over the next few years. We are working with the village council to identify seamstresses, source the materials, and determine the distribution model. 
 

Regina Coates
Nancy Cirmo
Anita DiMantova
Cathy DiSalvo
Diane Fonner
Sheila Mallete
Judy Marchese
Martha Blair Murphy
Laura Rossmoore
Luann Rowland
Christi Ruddy
Beverly Schechter
Betty Yates