PODI – The Story of Verona Achieng

Posted by Mar 6, 2018 Action, Faith and Service, PODI, THE FRONT PORCH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A while ago I shared an article with you about Periods of Dignity Initiative (PODI) and the mission they have taken on. We learned a lot about what young girls have to deal with in Kenya and other third-world countries.

One in ten African adolescent girls in remote areas miss school during their menses and eventually drops out of school because of menstruation related issues. Locally, a half a million girls miss school every month because they can’t afford sanitary protection.

Here is PODI’s mission statement:

“Periods Of Dignity Initiative envisions a society where girls will not have to worry about issues, but issues that are critical to their future well-being like academics and school work. We hope to achieve this through partnerships with like-minded individuals, raising awareness and resources that will enable us to buy and distribute the pads to the girls in the slums of Homa Bay County.

Without proper means of maintaining proper menstrual hygiene, these girls are at a higher risk of being the numbers in the statistics above. We don’t want them to be the statistics – we want them to be women who will change their societies for the better.We are in partnership with others to provide them with sanitary pads to help them manage their periods discretely.”

I’d like to share a little about one of PODI’s beneficiaries, Verona Achieng:

Verona is a 12 year old pupil in Homa Bay County, Kenya. She had to leave school because of the lack of a way to manage her periods – something unimaginable to most of us.

, representing PODI, enrolled Verona in the program and began  to supply her with sanitary pads monthly. She was able to start going to school again.  She  repeated the eighth grade and did very well. She no longer has to miss school and can focus on her studies.  Verona is very thankful for the help she receives.

Verona has to walk a considerable distance to school everyday, but she is determined to excel in school. She wants to reach her dream of being a gynecologist, so she can help women in the slums of Homa Bay.  With the help she is receiving monthly, her dream can become a reality.  Verona says that “access to pads is access to education”.

With your help, Verona and other girls like her will have an opportunity to succeed in life.

Please take a moment to read Verona’s letter

A pack of sanitary pads costs $1. A $10 contribution goes a long way to help these young women. The bigger the contribution, the more girls that can be helped. That’s a very small amount to help them be able to continue their education, garner self-esteem, self-confidence and have a chance for a better life.

You can be a part of the change in the lives of these maturing young ladies.
Please donate below through Paypal to PERIODSOFDIGNITY@GMAIL.COM
or through PICC and make a difference!

Treasurer Bradon Chuchu will ensure that all contributions
go directly to PODI’s mission to help these girls.

Thank you.

Elseba Adhiambo, PODI

Please take a few moments to read about another one of young ladies PODI is helping:
The Story of Viola Achieng

 

Note from Gail Pinder:  PODI is a cause that has become near and dear to our hearts. We hope to continue giving you updates and to introduce you to some of the girls that are being helped.

 

I hope you enjoyed reading this article.
Please check out my other articles on The Front Porch. Thanks!

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About Gail Pinder

I was born in New Jersey and raised in a small town in Pennsylvania. I have lived in many places – Texas, Arkansas, Delaware and finally Michigan. Several years ago, I met a wonderful man – a Vietnam Navy vet who shares my love of God and Country! We have been happily married for more than 18 years. I have two children of my own and Emery has two children. We have four wonderful grandchildren. Emery and I both have Multiple Sclerosis. He is now in a powerchair and I am his caregiver. Life is somewhat challenging, but we do the best we can. We tell everyone that “We have MS, but it doesn’t have us!” I have always loved to write and my dream was to becoming a “writer”. PICC gave me a window to my dream and an opportunity to share my thoughts with others. Our faith is strong and I don’t know where we would be without it. We are determined to spread a little sunshine in a darkened world.
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