News Release

25th August 2009

What a load of pants… and pads!

Girl Guides in the Newport area of Wales are helping to make a big difference to girls’ education in Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe - by collecting sanitary towels and knickers so that Feed The Children (UK) can ship them out to Africa. If the African girls do not have these basic hygiene products they have to miss one week in four of their education, putting them at a great disadvantage.

1st Bulwark Guides started the ball rolling on collecting pants and pads by holding a coffee evening for their parents that raised £40 to help with transportation.  The collection also counted towards their badge for overseas awareness that they were working on.

Since then members of the Newport Trefoil Guild, have collected more goods and raised £80, after hearing a presentation by Feed The Children’s area fundraising manager, Gill Edwards. The word is certainly getting around because Feed The Children received further goods via the 2nd Malpas (All Saints) Rainbows. Rainbow leader, Ann Moore, heard of the collection but because the Rainbows were a little young she collected pads and pants through All Saints Church.  So the Guides are certainly using their contacts to spread the word even further.

“We are really pleased with how well the appeal is going within our area,” says division commissioner for Newport, Debbie Charles.  “The Guides have been busily collecting pads, pants and a pound and at our AGM we raised £51 in a raffle to help Feed The Children with transportation costs.”

Gill from Feed The Children also spoke to over 40 leaders at the AGM and hopes they will talk to their groups over the coming months and raise even more awareness. Says Gill, “ African girls who are poor, lacking sanitary pads and underwear, just don’t go to school during their period, losing one week in four of their education.  As we know, educating girls in the developing world is vitally important. Educating them educates their future families, raises their confidence and aspirations and is key to addressing some of the inequalities they face. This is a simple and effective way to help girls in Africa. Just think what a difference it makes for them to have uninterrupted education?”

You can help to ship more pants and pads today...