Postcards
The Goddess Dezalik
22-Jul-2022
In my essay on the menstruation experience of the women in the Kalasha community, I write about their goddess Dezalik. She is believed to have all her powers dedicated to looking after women’s welfare and health. During times of difficulty, for instance, during a difficult labour or pregnancy, the Kalasha women throw walnuts at her wooden statue and pray for her intercession.
Working with Older Women
22-Jul-2022
While most of the work of Panties with Purpose has been concentrated on supporting girls in school, we have from time to time worked with older women. The plight of the poor, aged woman, especially one who has a disability or an illness, is one that is not often talked about. Leave aside that she might be experiencing all the terrible symptoms of menopause, she is extremely vulnerable.
Working in prisons
22-Jul-2022
One event which has stayed in my mind since we began our work with Panties with Purpose, is the day when we did our first distribution at the Langata Prison, in Nairobi. It was a long drawn out process to gain permission to enter the prison, because the authorities had never had a donor who wanted to give pants and sanitary pads. Finally we received approval and taking enough underpants to help 1000 inmates, we went to the prison on the appointed day.
Pantometer
22-Jul-2022
When we started the Panties with Purpose campaign in 2011 to raise awareness about period poverty and help poor school girls in Kenya, we found ourselves with supporters from all over the world. This wonderful Pantometer was designed by a group of Girl Guides at a school in Vancouver, BC. They raised over a 1000 pairs of underpants and sent them across to us.
Work in the rural areas of Kenya
22-Jul-2022
One of our partners in the early years of our work was The Path to Womanhood Foundation. They concentrated their work in Kiserian, where the Maasai live. On several occasions we donated underpants and sanitary pads, and PWF organised menstrual and reproductive health workshops for the women and young girls.
The Great P n P Blast
22-Jul-2022
On Friday 30th September 2011, my sisters and I, together with the Kenyan artist and singer Iddi Achieng, organised a music concert, The Great Panties and Pads Blast, at the Alliance Francaise Garden in Nairobi.
Girls Soccer Clubs in Kibera
22-Jul-2022
Playing sports while having your period has always been a problem for girls. There is research and data from the Youth Sport Trust which shows over the last three years, periods have become the biggest concern for girls when doing PE in school. A total of 37% o girls interviewed said periods stopped them from getting active in school last year, up from 27% in 2018-19.
Menstrual and Reproductive Health Training
22-Jul-2022
Our outreach work in Kenya has included school, hospitals, prisons and orphanages. We have worked with a variety of community and faith based organisations and done distributions at mosques, temples, and churches.
International Menstrual Hygiene Day 2018
22-Jul-2022
Every year on International Menstrual Hygiene Day, PwP supported a community based organisation with its efforts towards ending period poverty by providing them with underpants.
Hot Mango Chutney Sauce
29-Jun-2022
I interviewed these four young women outside a shrine in the city centre of Multan. I explained I was researching a book on menstruation and wanted to ask them some questions. They were very friendly at first and suggested I take a photo of them. They said they were willing to share openly…
Period Table
29-Jun-2022
Getting your period is, for many, filled with anxiety. Waiting for your period is also nerve wracking. And not getting it and finding out you’re pregnant can be either a terrifying or happy event. It all depends on your circumstances. I drew up this simple Period Table while thinking of the devastating consequences on so many women with the overturning of Roe vs Wade…
Paper Boat
28-Jun-2022
In 2018 I came across To Die in Benares, a short story collection by K Madavane, translated from the French by Blake Smith and really loved his story Paper Boat.
I wrote him an email telling him why his story moved me so much, and we began a correspondence about writing…