P.E.I. student helps make feminine hygiene kits for girls in Kenya

AnIsland high school student wants to do her part to give girlsin Kenya accessto feminine hygiene kits.

As part of a final project for her global issues class, Rachel Adams, aGrade 12 student fromKinkora, P.E.I.,is partnering with Days for Girls, aninternational non-profit organization that helps providewomen and girlsin developing countrieswith menstrual kits and health education.

Adams will spend her Saturday afternoon at the Borden-Carleton Public Library working with volunteers to cut strips offabric,whichwill eventually be sewninto reusable femininehygiene kits for girlsin theMikinduriregion ofKenya.

Without them [the menstrual kits]they're held back in a lot of different ways.- Grade 12 student Rachel Adams

The Kinkora Regional High School studentsaidwithout the reusable pads, girlsin countries like Kenya can miss out on their education.

"Without them [the menstrual kits]they're held back in a lot of different way," Adams said."It really affects their education, where often times they aren't even allowed to go to school when they're on their period.If they are, they don't have access to washrooms or any sort of products to get them through the day."

Adams said organizations like Days forGirls make a differenceby givingwomen and girlsaccess to the much-needed supplies.

'Alot of people haven't even heard about it'

This is the first time Adams has been involved with a project for Days for Girls. She said she hassupport from the Island's chapter of Days for Girls forthis weekend's event.

Adams said she has a strong interest in women's health issuesand wouldeventually like topursue acareer in international health. She said she's been focusing her efforts on educating her community on the importance of women's health, including through presentations to junior high school students.

"I've been putting up posters at my own school," she said. "I'm just trying to get the issue across, because a lot of people haven't even heard about it before."

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