News Release

15th January 2008

What a load of pants… and pads!

Members of women’s only gyms Curves in Bromsgrove and Hall Green, are helping to make a big difference to girls’ education in Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe - by donating sanitary towels and knickers. If the African girls do not have these basic materials they have to miss one week in four of their education, putting them at a great disadvantage.

“Members of the gym have been bringing in knickers and sanitary towels daily,” says Lisa Yli-Juuti, manager of Curves, Bromsgrove and Hall Green.  “The ladies have been buying extra pads when doing their weekly shopping especially for the appeal. With packs from as little as 15p for supermarket value brands a small amount on your bill can make a big difference to girls in Africa.”

“We are really pleased with how well the appeal is going,” said Brian Main, chief executive of Feed The Children UK. “The posters were only put up last week and already we need to collect the first batch. It’s really good to see so many people helping our cause, with the ladies from Curves making donations after each weekly shop! As well as the sanitary towels and knickers we also need monetary donations in order to ship the supplies to Africa."

“One of the big problems in our programmes is how much the lack of basic sanitary products affects the education of girls,” says Feed The Children’s Midland regional manager, Joy Cartwright.

“Girls who are poor, lacking sanitary pads and underwear, just don’t go to school during their period, losing one week in four of their education.  As we know, educating girls in the developing world is vitally important. Educating them educates their future families, raises their confidence and aspirations and is key to addressing some of the inequalities they face. This is a simple and effective way to help girls in Africa. Just think what a difference it makes for them to have uninterrupted education?”

If you can help with the appeal please call Joy Cartwright on 07984 6319471 or email jcartwright@feedthechildren.org.uk

Feed The Children works worldwide, as well as within the UK, to develop sustainable communities and provide food and other necessities for those in great need.  The charity concentrates aid on children suffering the effects of poverty, especially those who have been orphaned or abandoned. The charity believes that wherever there is famine, conflict, disease or poverty, it is always the children who are most vulnerable.