Yarn For Menstrual Health- A Plea To Do More

#YarnForMenstrualHealth is an awareness campaign whose aim is to normalize conversation on menstrual health. Similarly, we are raising funds to equip girls in need with reusable sanitary kits. Each kit goes for $10 and consists of 4 reusable pads and washing soap to last every girl an entire year!

What Is Menstrual Health?

Menstrual hygiene is access to products and amenities used during menses. These include menstrual hygiene products to absorb or collect menstrual blood, privacy to change the materials, and access to facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials.

Menstrual health is a broader term used to describe both menstrual hygiene and the interventions that link menstruation to other factors. These include health, wellbeing, gender, education, equality, empowerment and rights.

Why Yarn For Menstrual Health?

Yarn For Menstrual Health is Haseeta’s baby. She has always wondered how the less privileged manage during their menses. After finding out how people actually got by, she decided to launch the Menstrual Hygiene Campaign in Kenya on 11th October 2020. Her group would knit and crochet 1000 hats to create awareness regarding the unhygienic circumstances most school girls across Kenya endure during their menses.

After featuring Haseeta on December’s Issue of Shuhuda: Our Stories, I offered some suggestions. I believe that people with periods deserve more information, resources, and options. This is how Haseeta and I along with the African Girl Foundation teamed up to run the Yarn For Menstrual Health Campaign.

Based on a report by FSG, 65% of women and girls in Kenya are unable to afford sanitary pads. In addition, there are more statistics indicating that menstruation is tied to more fundamental risks and issues of gender inequity. For instance, 2 out of 3 of pad users in rural Kenya receive them from sexual partners and 1 in 4 girls do not associate menstruation with pregnancy.

Having people see menstruation normalized takes this topic out of the shadows and brings it into the open where anyone can ask questions and get informed answers.

How Can You Take Part?

1. #YarnForMenstrualHealth

1. Crochet or Knit a maroon or red hat.
2. Take a photo of yourself wearing the hat and share it on social media.
3. Share your menstrual health journey or what you would like to improve regarding menstrual health using #YarnForMenstrualHealth in your caption.
4. Provide a link to this post so others can read about the campaign

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This campaign is open to everyone. In case you don’t have red or maroon beanie you can use a beanie of any colour. If handmade, add on 2 lines of red or maroon. If store-bought, add an applique of a red or maroon star. We would love to hear what you have to say about menstruation.

2. Signup To Keep The Conversation Going.

I’ve made a google sheet where people wishing to get an assigned date can register. To clarify, anyone can take part in the campaign. This sign up sheet is just to ensure that the conversation keeps going every single day! We’re raising awareness friends!! As you know with most campaigns that go on for some time, morale can get low. With people talking about menstrual health for the duration of the campaign, we hope to keep the conversation going, during and even after the campaign.

3. Donate

Donations are voluntary & every donation counts! Although 1 kit goes for $10, there is no restriction to the amount one can donate. All donations go directly to the African Girl Foundation. You can also pledge a portion of your sales. If you make a pledge, please honour it. Thank you.

4. Sponsor The Event

Our efforts to raise funds would go even further with you as a sponsor. In this role, you or your business could provide a donation amount. The amount is completely up to you. For instance, Morine’s Shop is a sponsor of the campaign. For every beanie pattern purchased below, $1 will go towards the campaign. Magdalena of Woolly Gear is also a sponsor. All proceeds from the sale of her Tide Beanie pattern from February 2021 to 28th May 2021 go towards raising funds to equip girls. If you or your business are interested in becoming a sponsor, please get in touch with the African Girl Foundation at [email protected]

• Twist to the Classic Beanie Pattern- Crochet

Buy this pattern

• Peas in a Pod Beanie Pattern- Crochet

Buy this pattern

Total hats as of May 2021	Total girls to be equipped as of May 2021
1000	220

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Who Are The Organizers Of This Campaign?

As featured on:

1. MomBoss Kenya Magazine February-March 2021 Issue
2. LoveCrafts

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