Menstrual Equity for Girls in Latin America

With the help of our amazing donors, Days for Girls (DfG) is expanding our reach in Latin America! We continue to provide women and girls in Guatemala with DfG patented, washable, long-lasting pads as well as vital health education. Likewise, we are continuing our support for our social enterprises in Guatemala, as well as advocacy for menstruation-supportive policies, practices, and legislation. But we are thrilled to announce that using your donations, we are expanding our reach to include Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Ecuador!

Of the 23 million Latin American young women, 64% are affected by poverty. The impact of Covid-19 in these communities has caused a decrease in health education due to school closures and a sharp increase in teen pregnancies. Days for Girls products, education, and advocacy are needed now more than ever in these regions. Our social enterprises are equipped and ready to handle the need, using locally driven community outreach. 

DfG’s social entrepreneurs serve as educators, mentors, and leaders for women and girls in their communities. Recently, a social enterprise in Ecuador implemented a project to reach 400 girls in the Imbabura indigenous region in Northern Ecuador. Other social enterprises in Haiti and the Dominican Republic are currently in the process of producing 25,000 DfG menstruation Kits for a project in partnership with Convoy of Hope. Once production is completed, the Kits will be distributed with Convoy of Hope and partner Mission of Hope to 25,000 girls in Haiti. Each menstrual Kit represents a girl who will not miss school and activities she enjoys because of her period, or a woman who will be able to provide for herself or her family without period poverty holding her back. Women and girls will gain back days to reach their full potential.

We know that when we invest in girls, their potential is unleashed, and entire communities are elevated! Thank you for your part in this important endeavor.

Did you know that to date, Days for Girls has reached over 2.3 million girls in 144 countries? This has largely been due to our amazing donors--and you are part of that group! Thanks to your donation to DfG’s Unlimited Potential of Mayan Girls project through GlobalGiving, we are able to continue to work to improve the lives of women and girls in Guatemala.

Days for Girls’ core programs consist of four primary services: livelihood development, health education, menstrual products, and volunteerism/advocacy. The focus of each core program is to eliminate menstrual inequity by providing viable, cost effective, and culturally appropriate menstrual health solutions. In this report, I will focus on our livelihood development program, so that you can see how a portion of your generous funds are used to provide men and women in Guatemala with knowledge, tools, and mentorship to run their own businesses and thereby create a viable income.

At Days for Girls, we recognize that local leaders are best positioned to drive sustainable, long-lasting change in their communities. As DfG Social Entrepreneurs, local leaders in Guatemala are able to serve menstruators in their communities while also earning an income. It’s a win-win system that uplifts and transforms their communities from the inside out. 

Whether in person or virtual our Enterprise Training Program is instructed by expert DfG staff and leaders. The modules include:

• An Overview of the Menstrual Health (MH) field 
• MH Communications
• MH Advocacy
• MH Education for females and males: Training in both content and teaching techniques
• Enterprise Business Training: Including marketing, accounting and financial literacy, developing a business plan, and strategy fundraising for growth
• Sewing DfG Washable Pads: Sewing, quality control, and support from a dedicated Enterprise sewing specialist

To learn more specifically how our Social Enterprises in Guatemala are thriving, check out the Facebook pages of our San José Poaquil Enterprise and our Amachajul Casa Enterprise.