HI, I'M CLAIRE.
I live in Louisville, Kentucky. I’m 16 years old and just finishing up my sophomore year in high school. I attend a very academically driven school where I am in the Math, Science, and Technology magnet. School is pretty intense, but this doesn’t stop me from participating in tonnes of extra-curricular sports and activities. I play competitive hockey and soccer, I’m a member of various clubs at my high school, and I volunteer at the Kentucky Humane Society and the local YMCA. And in between all that, I hang out with my friends and try to catch up on sleep.
The biggest stress in my life is how to balance all that I have going on and still get top grades, so I can get into a good college. I get up at 5:30 am every morning, so I can eat breakfast and catch the 6:15 bus to school. Like clockwork, every year it seems like I’m only a week into the school year and I am already exhausted and counting down the days until summer break. Sounds tough, doesn’t it? Well it turns out, that I have it pretty easy because I get to go to school every day (whether I feel like it or not!). I can’t even imagine what it would be like if I had to worry about things like how I was going to get to school each day or how I have to ride my bike ten to twenty miles to school each way or worrying about catching up on missed school work because I miss one to four days of school every month. Because there are girls all over the world that deal with these issues every day of their lives. And that’s what got me involved with this project of Her Best Foot Forward. Girls in developing countries miss up to four days of school each month - just because of menstruation! Recognizing that this issue was an impediment to girls' success, NBA star Dwight Howard joined with the leadership of Her Best Foot Forward (a 501c3 non-profit organization) to launch the social venture, UhuruPads, in Tanzania. UhuruPads are Tanzania's only 100% biodegradable sanitary pad! Made in a small workshop by local women (resulting not in just a product but critically needed jobs); the pads are provided at no cost to girls who want to stay in school. As one of four young women selected to serve as a "Champion for Girls" in July, I'll be providing pads (and underwear too, as these are also often not available) and deploying with our team into a projected five schools. We will be providing health and hygiene information to ensure that the girls feel informed and confident during this important stage of life. And with that, we can help ensure that the girls in these schools never miss a day of school because they don’t have access to sanitary pads. My personal fundraising goal is $5,300 and I am asking for your support. This will fund the cost for 300 girls at one school to have sanitary pads and underwear for one full year. Each member of our group has a similar fundraising goal. We are starting slowly with just five schools because we need to ensure that we can support this initiative at the schools in successive years. We can’t go in and do this as a “one-time” thing -- we need to make sure that we set up a process where this carries on year after year. If each of the members of our group reaches her fundraising goal, we will provide 1200 girls with sanitary pads and underwear for one full year! UhuruPads is a program of Her Best Foot Forward, so all donations are tax-deductible. By using the DONATE button to reach my secure donation page, your contribution will be attributed to my fundraising goal. You could also send a check (payable to Her Best Foot Forward, 7701 Greenlawn Road, Louisville, KY 40242 - put my name in the "memo"). Thank you so much for your support!!! |
WHY CAN'T GIRLS (and WOMEN) "GO WITH THE FLOW?"
ABOUT UHURUPADS
UhuruPads – a recently launched social enterprise in Arusha, Tanzania – manufactures and distributes high-quality, affordable, and eco-friendly sanitary pads. The only 100% biodegradable pad in Tanzania, UhuruPads keep girls in school and create jobs and opportunity for local women. The ultimate goal is to create independence – for the girls, first and foremost, as well as the women who use, make, and distribute them – the word UHURU was chosen for the name of the product! Download an UhuruPads Information Sheet Below to Learn More!
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