Providing Girls in Sudan With What They Need

Jan 31, 2012
Jon Pike

flag of sudan - wikimedia commons

Charitable campaigns in the United States are trying to provide what girls in Sudan need to continue their education: underwear and sanitary products.

People in Western countries take a lot for granted. Something that people see every day actually prevents girls from going to school in some countries if they don't have it. Girls in the Sudan often stop going to school after they reach puberty. The reason that they do this is because they don't have any underwear or feminine hygiene products to help them deal with the onset of menstruation. Something that people in industrialized countries have access to every day, just by going to their local discount store, is a precious commodity in countries like Sudan. It is also the main reason that girls stop going to school and never have a chance to better themselves. Something as simple as these items can make the difference in girls raising themselves out of poverty.

Education for Girls in the Sudan

Education in Sudan is legally free and compulsory up to age 13. But, while the school completion rates for neither boys nor girls are particularly high in Sudan, they can be even lower for girls, because many schools simply don't have sanitary facilities for girls. An International Medical Corps field officer, Dianah Chioreso says, that for many girls in Sudan, “getting your period is something to be ashamed of, rather than a milestone to be celebrated.” In order to help girls in the Sudan feel better about themselves when this happens to them, people around the United States are engaging in a very practical form of activism.

Giving Young Girls What They Need

Quite simply put, activists are providing these young girls in the Sudan what they need to be able to go to school: underwear and pads. They are holding events where people can either donate money, or the items themselves.

The Fargo-based, African Soul - American Heart, organization, for instance, is holding a “Get Your Panties In A Bunch” lunch get together on February 18, 2011. People can get together, have lunch, donate and learn about this important project and what it means to girls living in Sudan.

This type of activism doesn’t have to be confined to a one-day event. People can find out who in their local area are providing these items for girls in Sudan and make a donation.

People who live in a country like the United States can learn how important it is to provide items for people that we take for granted and can get whenever we want. Practical forms of activism like this, simply look at what people need and figure out ways to get it to them. In this case, it is something that people cannot easily get for themselves but can make a big difference in people's lives.

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