Chelsey from doTERRA had the opportunity to interview some leaders who have taken part in the Healing Hands organization of Days for Girls. This post will be part one of a two part series talking about the Days for Girls program. I am sure you have heard of this program and the many benefits and ways it is blessing the lives of so many women and girls across the world. We wanted to help you get a more personal view of the wonderful effects this organization is having. The first interview was with Jennifer Kelly who is currently living in Guatemala working with that chapter of Days for Girls:
Q: What impact is Days for Girls having worldwide and, specifically, in Guatemala?
A: The Days for Girls mission is “Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.” That goal is truly having a global impact. We get to see videos from some of the girls who have received our kits. Their stories about how they are able to stay in school and that they are no longer embarrassed are amazing to hear.
Q: What are you currently working on in the Days for Girls Guatemala chapter?
A: We now have Managers, directors, and 10 seamstresses working in our Guatemala facility creating the kits! We have been able to teach local women how to make the kits, which opens employment opportunities. This is a big deal because most of these women working for us never went to school and are illiterate, but can still have a job and get paid. We are always looking for ways to have a bigger reach in the Guatemalan communities and ways to make producing the kits cheaper. We have plans to purchase two machines that will be able to make the underwear we include in the kits. Being able to make them ourselves will be decrease the cost by two or three times and eliminate the need to purchase from a third party.
Q: Do you have any personal stories about dropping off the kits?
A: During my trip we handed out close to 500 kits to schools. At one of the schools, we asked the teacher what the girls normally do during their periods and the response was that most of them don’t even have underwear to help them. Most of them wear long dark skirts if they even come to school so that if they leak on the chairs, they can discreetly wipe it up without anyone noticing. This was so eye opening for me and made me so grateful that this organization was making such a difference in the world.
If you would like to know more information on this organization, read stories about Days for Girls, or to find out how you can volunteer your time to help this wonderful cause, check out our page about it here: https://doterra.com/US/en/humanitarian-additional-projects-days-for-girls-hygiene. Also included is a video showing the impact Days for Girls with doTERRA are havinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL3GpEPk7hg.
