On March 13, fashion designer Maja Kotala from Chorzów will set off on an extraordinary journey with the “Victoria Rally”. The Polish woman has been helping women in Kenya for years, where she founded the Sewing Together initiative and teaches women how to sew. Thanks to this skill, they have a chance to earn their own money and become independent. This time, Maja Kotala plans to travel through East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique and meet with local women to fight against period poverty.
It is in these countries that at least eight “Victoria Rally” stations will be built, where workshops on sewing reusable sanitary pads and meetings devoted to sexual education will be held. – I’ve already forgotten what a dream is. There is much, much work. I spend 12 hours a day putting everything together. I can’t wait to start, he says.
“Victoria Rally”, i.e. 39 days of fighting against period poverty
This is the second edition of the “Victoria Rally”. Last year, Maja and her volunteers managed to train 860 women, distribute 100 sets of reusable sanitary pads, set up and equip 100 mini sewing rooms, and distribute 1,500 needles and 150 pairs of panties. As Maja points out, period poverty in African countries has two dimensions. Firstly, many women cannot afford to buy sanitary pads, and secondly, there are simply no such pads available.
Victoria Rally 2023 private archive
– The package costs about a dollar. The average Kenyan family survives on less than $2 a day, so in large families it is simply impossible for women to buy sanitary pads. They use very unhygienic forms such as leaves, sand and feathers. The more I dug into the topic, the more extreme examples I found. I also learned about pieces of mattress, animal skins, and in some parts of Africa – not Kenya – cow dung. Girls also exchange dirty sanitary pads, which is very dangerous. In cities, there are situations where sexual intercourse is exchanged for a pack of sanitary pads. Women often do not leave their homes during menstruation. They stop going to school, their attendance is low, they are expelled and the poverty is getting deeper and deeper – he says.
As Maja recalls, during the previous edition of the Victoria Rally, women welcomed her with open arms. – Somehow, this menstruation brings us together, women. We may have different skin colors and beliefs, but menstruation exists beyond divisions. The relief in the eyes of these women, when they could create something with their own hands that would improve their standard of living, is indescribable – she emphasizes.
“Victoria Rally” in 2024
Victoria Rally 2023 Musa
The biggest challenge, however, is obtaining funds to build the station during the rally. – The biggest problem is still finances. As I mentioned, I would really like to find funds for one more place, because the demand for help related to period poverty is really high. I am very lucky to find people who can put this help to good use. If anyone knows a lingerie company that would like to donate underwear to us, we are most welcome, he says.
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Periods significantly impact the social and economic lives of women around the world. Last year, we organized a campaign whose aim was to “disembarrass” the topic of menstruation. This time, nazwa.gazeta.pl joins the fight against period poverty as the media patron of the 2nd edition of the “Victoria Rally”.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
