Days for Girls

{{Short description|Nonprofit organization}}

File:Days for Girls logo 2018.png

Days for Girls (DfG) is a nonprofit organization that prepares and distributes sustainable menstrual health solutions to girls who would otherwise miss school during their monthly periods. DfG was founded in 2008 by American Celeste Mergens.{{Cite news|url=https://news.impactalpha.com/by-women-for-women-the-new-economics-of-menstrual-pads-in-africa-a6e1ace71ba0|title=By women, for women: The new economics of menstrual pads in Africa|last=Thorpe|first=Devin|date=2018-01-09|work=ImpactAlpha|access-date=2018-02-19|archive-date=2019-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215195654/https://impactalpha.com/by-women-for-women-the-new-economics-of-menstrual-pads-in-africa-a6e1ace71ba0/|url-status=dead}} After visiting an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, she discovered that menstruating girls stayed in their dormitories for days, sitting on cardboard to absorb their flow, because they could not afford feminine hygiene products. Her first response was to organize donations of disposable sanitary pads, but she realized that this was not a sustainable solution as the girls had no way to dispose of used pads.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ecwid.com/blog/case-study-days-for-girls.html|title=Days for Girls: Improving Girls' Access to Education, One DfG Kit at a Time|last=Hoffman|first=Ashley|work=Ecwid|access-date=2018-02-20}} She then developed the idea of creating washable, reusable pads and providing the girls with a personal kit of all they would need to continue their schooling with hygiene and dignity.{{cite web|url=http://www.oprah.com/health/celeste-mergens-days-for-girls|title=Period Drama: Helping Girls Around the World Navigate "That Time of the Month"|last1=Mccray|first1=Linzee Kull|date=January 7, 2014|website=|publisher=Oprah.com|accessdate=16 February 2018}} By 2018, the DfG Kits (designed to last up to three years) and health education programs had reached more than one million girls and women in over 100 countries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/single-post/2018/01/04/One-Million-And-Counting|title=One Million... And Counting!|last=|first=|date=January 5, 2018|website=Days for Girls International {{!}} Turning Periods Into Pathways|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072934/https://www.daysforgirls.org/single-post/2018/01/04/One-Million-And-Counting|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Davis|first1=Tom|title=Bromsgrove School students bake their way to £180 for charity|date=28 January 2018 |url=http://www.bromsgroveadvertiser.co.uk/news/15893903.Bromsgrove_School_Students_bake_their_way_to__180_for_charity|publisher=Bromsgrove Advertiser|accessdate=18 February 2018}}

DfG Kits are made by volunteers who work as "teams", some of which go on to acquire the status of "chapters".{{Cite web |title=How DfG Volunteers Work |url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/how-dfg-volunteers-work/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Days for Girls International |language=en-US}} Student volunteers operate as "clubs". These groups have formed in many countries, including Australia,{{cite news|title=Taree Days for Girls raises funds for hygiene kits|url=http://www.manningrivertimes.com.au/story/5209869/taree-days-for-girls-raises-funds-for-hygiene-kits/|accessdate=16 February 2018|work=Manning River Times|date=6 February 2018}} Canada,{{Cite news|url=https://www.westerngazette.ca/culture/days-for-girls-charity-brings-hygiene-kits-to-underprivileged-women/article_2c61813e-0c30-11e8-966e-a3fbaeb353c4.html|title=Days for Girls charity brings hygiene kits to underprivileged women|last=Kim|first=Min Jy|date=February 7, 2018|work=The Gazette • Western University's Student Newspaper|access-date=2018-02-18|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218091318/https://www.westerngazette.ca/culture/days-for-girls-charity-brings-hygiene-kits-to-underprivileged-women/article_2c61813e-0c30-11e8-966e-a3fbaeb353c4.html|archive-date=February 18, 2018|url-status=dead}} New Zealand,{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/79998389/charities-seeing-increasing-numbers-of-women-unable-to-pay-for-sanitary-items|title=Charities seeing increasing numbers of women unable to pay for sanitary items|last=Forrester|first=Georgia|date=May 15, 2016|website=Stuff|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018}} the United Kingdom,{{cite web |title=DAYS FOR GIRLS UK - Charity 1189219 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5149771 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |access-date=31 December 2021}}{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15969515.Students_praised_for_community_work_in_Malawi/|title=Students praised for community work in Malawi|last1=Thompson|first1=Vicky|date=8 February 2018|work=The Press (York)|accessdate=16 February 2018}} and the United States.{{Cite web |title=DfG USA |url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/united-states/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Days for Girls International |language=en-US}} Each kit is in a draw-string bag and includes reusable cloth menstrual pads made up of colorful shields and liners, panties, a washcloth and soap, a carry pouch for washing & storing, and other items.{{Cite web |title=The DfG Pad |url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/dfg-pads/ |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=Days for Girls International |language=en-US}} The kit enables girls to carry their clean and used pads discreetly and to take care of their own hygiene needs.{{cite web |title=Sewing DfG kits |url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/chaptersandteams |publisher=Days for Girls |accessdate=16 February 2018 |archive-date=18 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118045353/https://www.daysforgirls.org/chaptersandteams |url-status=dead }} During the distributions, communities also receive health education to break stigmas and cultural taboos associated with menstruation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/life/2016/02/13/days-for-girls-period-menstruation-making-pads-/77450618/|title=Michigan-made sanitary pads keep girls around the world in school|last=Montemurri|first=Patricia|date=13 February 2016|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=2018-02-19|language=en}}

In 2012, Days for Girls International launched an Enterprise Program to help local women establish social enterprises to make and distribute kits in their own countries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/single-post/2018/02/06/Introducing-the-Enterprise-Evaluation-Report|title=Introducing the Enterprise Evaluation Report|last=Mergens|first=Celeste|date=February 7, 2018|website=Days for Girls International {{!}} Turning Periods Into Pathways|language=en|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218090859/https://www.daysforgirls.org/single-post/2018/02/06/Introducing-the-Enterprise-Evaluation-Report|url-status=dead}} Close to 70 Days for Girls Enterprises now exist in more than a dozen countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.{{cite web|title=Become an enterprise partner|url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/become-an-enterprise-partner|publisher=Days for Girls|accessdate=16 February 2018|archive-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218023950/https://www.daysforgirls.org/become-an-enterprise-partner|url-status=dead}} In select regions and in order to improve sustainability, DfG kits also come with menstrual cups, which have a longer use life than washable cloth pads.{{Cite web|url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/single-post/2018/04/21/Our-Sustainable-Solution|title=Days for Girls International {{!}} Turning Periods Into Pathways|website=Days for Girls International {{!}} Turning Periods Into Pathways|language=en|access-date=2018-04-25|archive-date=2018-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013132948/https://www.daysforgirls.org/single-post/2018/04/21/Our-Sustainable-Solution|url-status=dead}}

Days for Girls International is headquartered in Mount Vernon, Washington, United States, and has offices in Ghana, Guatemala, Nepal, and Uganda.{{cite web|title=Enterprise Program|url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/enterpriseprogram|publisher=Days for Girls|accessdate=19 February 2018|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731213206/https://www.daysforgirls.org/enterpriseprogram|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |title=DAYS FOR GIRLS INTERNATIONAL - GuideStar Profile |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/45-3934671 |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=www.guidestar.org}} The organization's impact and transparency have earned high ratings from GuideStar.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/45-3934671|title=DAYS FOR GIRLS INTERNATIONAL - GuideStar Profile|website=www.guidestar.org|language=en|access-date=2018-02-19}} Celeste Mergens, the organization's founder and CEO, was awarded a Purpose Prize by AARP in 2017.{{cite web|title=Celeste Mergens|url=https://www.aarp.org/about-aarp/purpose-prize/winners/info-2017/celeste-mergens.html|website=2017 Purpose Prize Winners|publisher=AARP|accessdate=16 February 2018}}

In 2019, Days for Girls was awarded $250,000 by Goldman Sachs, as the cause supported by the first-place winner in the Goldman Sachs Gives Analyst Impact Fund competition, where analysts from the firm compete to gain support for their chosen nonprofit.{{cite web |title=The Fourth Annual Goldman Sachs Gives Analyst Impact Fund |url=https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/goldman-sachs-gives/meet-the-grantees/analyst-impact-fund-2019/ |publisher=Goldman Sachs |accessdate=2 December 2019 |date=7 November 2019}}

In 2020, Public Interest Registry named Days for Girls International its .ORG of the Year, awarding the organization $45,000 to continue improving female health and education across the globe ($30,000 for .ORG of the Year and $15,000 for the Combatting Coronavirus Award).{{Cite web |last=Registry |first=Public Interest |title=Days for Girls International Named .ORG of the Year |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/days-for-girls-international-named-org-of-the-year-301191346.html |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}

Mergens announced her retirement from the organization in January 2022,{{Cite web |date=2022-01-25 |title=Days for Girls Leadership Transition |url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/blog/days-for-girls-leadership-transition/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Days for Girls International |language=en-US}} and published a book, The Power of Days: A Story of Resilience, Dignity, and the Fight for Women's Equity in 2023.{{cite web |title=The Power of Days (publisher's website) |url=https://benbellabooks.com/shop/the-power-of-days/ |publisher=BenBella Books |access-date=31 January 2024}}{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=The Power of Days: A Journey of Hope and Resilience |url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/blog/the-power-of-days-a-journey-of-hope-and-resilience/ |website=Days for Girls International |access-date=31 January 2024 |date=25 September 2023}}{{cite news |title=The 2023 Mighty Women Reading List for Adults |url=https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=37136 |access-date=31 January 2024 |work=A Mighty Girl}} Tiffany Larson was named the new CEO in April 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-25 |title=Important Announcement: Tiffany Larson Made Permanent CEO |url=https://www.daysforgirls.org/blog/important-announcement-tiffany-larson-made-permanent-ceo/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Days for Girls International |language=en-US}}