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Meet two women making sanitary protection available for all

THE SUBJECT of female menstruation remains a taboo issue, even in liberal Britain. However, most women know that they can buy the necessary sanitary protection they need so that they can go about their daily lives.

If you’re a homeless woman, it’s a different matter. You might not have the money to buy sanitary protection or access to private toilet facilities.

And if you are a disadvantaged woman living in the developing world the situation is even worse. A report by United Nations organisation UNESCO, estimates 1 in 10 girls in Africa will miss school and eventually drop out of education because they either can’t afford sanitary protection, or because the toilet facilities at their schools are inadequate. In Ethiopia 50 per cent of school girls miss 1-4 days of school per month due to their periods.

With these facts in mind, two young Christian women have taken it upon themselves to campaign and help women and young girls who find it difficult to access adequate sanitary protection.

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ANDREA DAMONS

Andrea Damon, 25 is a young Christian woman who is part of the worship team at her church, the New Testament Assembly, in South Croydon.

She was inspired to start collecting sanitary towels for homeless women after reading about an initiative called The Homeless Period on V Inspired, an organisation that gives young people passionate about social issues opportunities to become social leaders.

Andrea, who is currently between jobs said: “I came across the initiative and decided I really wanted to do something. There’s such a need out there for homeless people.”

She has added her own unique touch to the initiative.

She said: “I have expanded the campaign because all they initially asked for was sanitary towels but then I thought not everyone wears sanitary towels, some people wear tampons and then thought they’d need wipes, shower gels, flannels and towels. I’m stretching it out to provide what I would want if I was in that situation.”

Andrea has already put together a small team of volunteers who are visiting local schools to get pupils to donate packs of sanitary towels.

She has also held a special collection day at her church and since publicising details of this initiative on social media, numerous individuals have offered their support so that she’s more than surpassed her goal of collecting 100 packs.

Andrea is happy to have taken on the project. which ends in May 2016. “This is important for me because volunteering connects my faith with something that matters and stops me from getting bored and inactive” she said.

If you are want to support this initiative email damons.andrea@yahoo.co.uk for details.

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LADY APHRODITE POLLUS

Lady Aphrodite Pollus, is an active young Christian. She works for a local newspaper, presents a radio show on UGNJamz, is active in her church, Eden Christian Centre in Ilford, Essex and has a passion to help people.

She told Soul Stirrings: “I’ve always wanted to help people. Ever since the age of 11 I told people I wanted to be a charity worker.”

When Lady Pollus was asked to take part in a 3 Peak Challenge to climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, she thought it would be good to tie it in with a charitable endeavour and decided to raise money for AFRIpads, a Ugandan social enterprise that makes and distributes reusable sanitary pads at low cost .

Lady Pollus explained how she decided upon AFRIpads. “I was going through Facebook when all of a sudden I was seeing lots of feeds about sanitary pads.

“I saw an organisation called She Thinx. Through that I came across Afripads. Once I read through it I thought what an amazing thing. Something we take for granted here can have a domino effect on girls in Africa.”

Lady Pollus is due to climb three peaks in April, and has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise £1,000 which will be used to purchase reusable sanitary protection for young Ugandan girls.

As far as she is concerned, the charitable endeavour she has undertaken is a practical sign of God’s love for others.
She said, “Life is very short, and God has given us so many things to do, as well as gifts and tools, and it would be such a waste to not think of other people. Everybody needs help and support.”

If you would like to support this initiative then visit www.gofundme.com/3PEAKS4AFRIPADS4

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