Sister Cloth for Maisha

My oldest daughter had the privilege of visiting Maisha in the spring of 2015. Her heart was forever changed, and Maisha became a regular part of our day to day lives. When the opportunity to help with Christmas boxes came up, we happily said yes.

Seeing the list of basic needs was eye-opening. As a mom of three daughters (and two sons), it was heartbreaking to think girls were missing school because they had no way to care for their period. Disposable pads felt like a short term solution. I was aware that some cloth diapering moms also used cloth menstrual pads, aka “mama cloth”. I began watching YouTube videos and sewing samples. After many hours at my sewing machine, I approached Beatrice with the idea of sewing for the girls at Maisha.

Our original twelve samples went to Kenya in June. With the help of several friends at my church, I began organizing a group effort to produce menstrual care kits – “sister cloth”(since it’s not only for moms). We decided to use a pattern from Days for Girls (a charity organization that sews to provide menstrual cloth kits for girls all over the world). Their pattern is proven to work, waterproof, simple to assemble, does not take much water to clean, dries quickly after washing, and lasts for 2-3 years.

The kits include: two waterproof shields, eight absorbent flannel liners that are inserted into the shields (and can be doubled if needed) two pairs of underwear, a washcloth, two ziploc bags, and a drawstring bag to carry the kit to and from school.

The response to this effort has been amazing!! Donations of cotton fabric, waterproof PUL, snaps, cotton flannel, thread, underwear, washcloths, (even sewing machines and sergers) has been overwhelming. With the help of about twenty friends, we have completed FIFTY kits to be sent to Maisha with the Christmas boxes! The Lord has blessed this effort from the very start and we hope to keep sewing into 2016 to provide as many kits as possible.

If you would like more information about Sister Cloth for Maisha, please email dianne.rabon@gmail.com with Sister Cloth in the subject line.