This blog is for the sole purpose of having a 'one stop shop' for all the information needed for the LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Willard Stake 25th year anniversary Service project. If your a member of the Willard community looking for details, or someone else looking for a wonderful service project idea, we hope you'll find all the information you need to make it a success.
Our goal was to find a service project that would:
1) Include all women in the Willard area regardless of age and ability.
2) Be meaningful both for the giver and the recipient.
3) Be something from women to women.
There were several things to choose from, but each of them posed complications to one or more of the goals set at the onset. Until we found just the thing.
In Africa, the orphan population has skyrocketed over recent years. Between AIDS, war, and the overall breakdown of family units, millions of children live on the streets until/unless they find a 'home' in one of the many orphanages that exist almost entirely on donations from religious groups from all over the world. With little-to-no federal funding, the orphanages struggle to feed, educate, and clothe the children they house--often twice as many children as they have room and beds for. There is so much that needs doing; so much that a few hundred women in Willard, Utah can't do, but there is one thing we found that we can do. One thing that will make a difference to each and every one of these orphaned girls. We can give them back days lost each month when they are unable to attend school or play outside--days when they are resigned to their beds during their menstrual cycle because they have no feminine protection. Due to sanitation, sewer, and availability circumstances, the traditional (and disposable) products we use in the US are not feasible in Africa, and with so many needs in need of being met, this was one that was without a solution--until now.
SWAN (Serving Women and Nations) learned of this need and sprang into action. In October 2008 they, in conjunction with the organization Project Thrive (and several individuals that took up the cause), made 500 reusable feminine hygiene kits. Once they had the kits, they took them to an orphanage in Kenya and incorporated the giving of these packets with a day that taught these girls empowerment, morality, and basic hygiene in regard to their developing bodies. The girls, rather than being embarrassed at the sensitive issues addressed, were thrilled with the opportunity they had to take care of themselves and take control not only of their present, but also of their future. Since that singular event, SWAN has received dozens of requests from other orphanages hoping to give back the days that their girls are also losing every month. Only after presenting the program, titled "Days for Girls" did they learn that a girl's cycle is referred to as "Days" in Africa. A coincidence? Maybe, but maybe not. Either way, the individuals on both ends of the project were blessed that day. And yet the need remains.
Enter the women of Willard and Perry.
On August 22, 2009 we will meet for our own "Days for girls: Women Giving to Women" at the new Willard Stake Center and spend the day creating for these girls what they can not make or buy for themselves. We will donate the completed kits to SWAN who will then see that they are delivered to orphanages in Africa along with the "Days for Girls" presentation that helps teach these girls that they have power over their own bodies.
We will make a difference, and we invite you to join us if you live near the Willard area. Please leave any questions you have in the comment area of this post and they will be addressed in subsequent posts as the preparations for the project get underway.
Also, take a look at the "What we Need" list in the right hand sidebar. It does appear a bit daunting, we know. If you have a resource for any of these items, please let us know. This is an auspicious undertaking, but one we can most certainly do with the help of many hands and willing hearts.
