Period poverty charity reflects on life-changing African trip
A period poverty charity has been reflecting after completing a life-changing trip.
Kelly Walker-Reed and Lucy Palin from Project GIVE spent a week in Gambia, visiting schools and working with women about periods and how to take care of themselves.
Wolverhampton’s link with The Gambia began when Kelly met Bev Hodt, from Project Gambia, which has established a range of projects to provide education, support, and funding to work to find a solution to poverty.
Project GIVE were then given the opportunity to travel to Gambia as part of a Project Gambia trip and work with various schools and communities.
Kelly said it had been an honour and privilege to experience what it was like to travel to Gambia. “Every day had its own highlight, but for me the thing that sticks out in my mind was visiting the local clinic,” she said.
“It had maybe three beds that were completely falling to bits – and women were giving birth on those beds.
“The waiting room was just a number of benches and the storeroom was empty, so there was no massive stock of medicines.
“It’s truly appalling people can’t access good health care and I think we’re incredibly lucky in this country that we do, and have the service that we do.”
Kelly and Lucy took along a suitcase full of reusable sanitary pads, which they donated to women in villages who would not normally have access to such items. They were also able to deliver sessions about periods and how to take care of themselves, with Kelly talking about what Project GIVE can do for the next time they go to Gambia.
She said: “We will continue with the work that we did, so we’ll go back and see how they got on with the reusable sanitary pads from the sewing event, and will hopefully be able to take a bigger amount next time. We’ll also take resources for the schools, such as water bottles for each child so that they can fill it up before they go to school.”
Kelly was also quick to praise Project Gambia and spoke about about people can support their projects in the country.
She said: “We always say to try and help local companies, charities and organisations because these are the ones that do not get the big pots of funding.
“That’s why we support organisations like Project Gambia, since every single penny that they receive goes to the Gambia to help people
.”
To find out more about Project Gambia and the work they do, go to projectgambia.org.uk/index.html
To find out more about Project GIVE, go to inspiringhealthychoices.co.uk/project-give/
