Halifax architects travelling to Ghana with menstrual kits

Halifax architects who designed and built a library inAbetenim, Ghana a year ago are returning to the small village Mar.3 with 75menstrualkits.

"We aremaxingout our baggage to the pound and Air Canada will be busy," saidJenniferCorson, a partner with Solterre Design.

Corsonsays she was inspired to bring the kits on the trip afterlistening to an interview on Information Morning with Paula David who runs the local chapter of Days for Girls, anon-profit organization that aims to keep girls from missing school because of their periods.

Each kithas two shields (the part that wraps around the panty that has a hidden waterproof layer that protects againstleaks)and eight absorbent liners.The washable pads and linerswere sewn by people in Halifax and Bedford.

'Life changing'kits

"We'll be bringing the kits to the young women in Abetenim and in return we're asking them to take on learning more about sewing and business by setting up a sewing cooperative and challenging them to sew the same kits again for sale for other young women in nearby villages," saidCorson.

Paula Davidrecentlyreturned from a trip to Kenya where shedistributed"several hundred kits" to local women. She says disposable menstrual supplies can be expensive and if there is no access, women are often using "dirty rags, pieces of old mattresses, newspapers, corn husks you name it in an attempt to try and stay in school."

Like Corson's trip, David'salso included tutorials onto make thekits.

"They're so excited just to receive anything new and pretty because they have so very little but then to receive something that they know is going to help them be successful is just, it's so life changing for them," said David.

Corson says in addition to handing out the kits, she along with her husband Keith Robertson, their two children and fellow architect John Crace will be adding solar panels to thelibrary, building waterless latrines and installing masonry hearths.