Each year Rotary York Ainsty’s organise an event were women come together to make washable, re-usable, feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries.
Here’s a short report on Yorkits 2023 from BBC RadioYork, for those on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=525843373012070
International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023 was marked by the annual Yorkits Workshop in York Minster. Part of York International Women’s Week, teams of volunteers made washable, re-usable, feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries.
Lack of access to affordable, feminine hygiene products has serious consequences for many women and girls across the world, including missing school days and risk of infection from using improvised materials. Yorkits make menstruation safe, hygienic and dignified – and that means girls can continue their education uninterrupted, giving them equal opportunities.
Run as part of Rotary York Ainsty’s community support initiatives, Yorkits is a hands-on project bringing women and girls from York and the region together, to make these feminine hygiene kits – which improve the lives of young girls by ensuring they do not miss school during their periods. Yorkits has devised a practical, low cost, re-usable and eco-friendly solution to this problem – using brightly patterned cottons to make cleverly designed pads and covers which are then packed into attractive drawstring bags. These can be easily sewn by hand or with a sewing machine.
Each kit, which can last for up to three years, includes underwear, a wash cloth and a super-strong polythene zip-locked bag to enable items to be washed easily – particularly important in areas where clean water is scarce – plus a waterproof carry bag for soiled items. The kits are then taken by volunteers to overseas projects run by Rotary, churches and other voluntary organisations.
Find out more about Rotary York: https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=175
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