District 9200 Knowledge=Power=Survival District 411 A

“While it may be difficult for the average person to see the connection between the sanitary towels project and girls staying in school and these girls getting HIV, there is a profound connection. These girls want to be in school and when there are little or no resource for such needs as sanitary towels…these girls miss up to 4 to 5 days of school a month and search for funds to access sanitary towels. I am confident that the Freedom for Girls project ensures that the girl is less likely to contract HIV.” Warren Buckingham, PEPFAR Country Coordinator November 2009

WHO?

• American school girls for Kenyan school girls

WHAT is Hearts for Girls ?

Supporting needy girls in sub-Sahara Africa with:  Sanitary pads and health education  Graduating from primary school  Reducing the risk of contracting HIV  Care package Through: Health Education Africa Resource Team (HEART)

WHY are we doing this?

Knowledge = Power = Survival  25% of girls are NOT receiving basic education.

 25% are mothers before age 18  14 million girls aged 15-19 give birth each year (United Nations Population Fund, State of world Population 2005)  Only 35% of girls between the ages of 16 & 20 yrs are still in school (www.zanaafrica.org)  54 % not in school due to menstruation cycle

HOW are we doing this?

 Supported by US and Kenyan Rotarians, Lions, and businessmen  Care packages manufactured locally  Teachers oversee the distribution each month  Distribution and health education by Lydiah Njoroge,  FFG Field Officer monitors the implementation of the project in schools

Local Packaging and Storage in Ridgeways, Nairobi, Kenya

Meet Some of the Girls…

Sabinah Kileta

Class 8, Mruru Primary Wants to be a Broadcaster

“The Sanitary towels have helped me in many ways. Before the towels I had to try to use my clothes, but often we lack water and soap. Thank you for remembering me.”

Catherine Wambugha

Class 8, Nyolo Primary Wants to be a Teacher

“When I would be on my cycle I was not able to come to school. Boys used to laugh, but now they don’t.”

Nelly Maseghe

Class 6, KunguPrimary Wants to be an Engineer

“The sanitary towels have helped me very much because I received them when I had no way to buy them. My teacher gives them to me every month …now I am very well without this problem.”

Magrina Mwamburi

Class 8, Kidaya Primary Wants to be a Police Officer

“I am very happy because you have helped us with the towels because in the shop they’re too expensive I cannot buy them. Last year I used them carefully and they help me so much.”

WHERE are we now?

• Over 97,000 school girls have benefit from the Freedom for Girls sanitary napkins project distributed by HEART in Kenya.

Progress 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Year

2008

# of Packets

7,764 2009 20,128 2010 47,151 2011 68,091 2012 87,307 2013 97,056

Interview with school girl, Terri



http://youtu.be/opWQkRMMkbI

How can we afford this project at LOW cost?

 Previous Donations:  Kundan Doshi (Doshi Group of Companies)  Dr. Rasik Kantaria (Prime Bank Ltd.)  Kanu Devani (Pelican Signs)  Christian Knochenhauer (Art Kenya)  Vickie Winkler (HEART)  Bimal Kantaria (Prestige Packaging)  Sarit Shah (I &M Bank)  Mrs. Margery Kabuya (Beverly Flower Farm – Ridgeways)

Please join us in supporting our sisters in Kenya !

Thank You!