Our Impact
News & Updates
Research, partnerships, community stories, and updates from Days for Girls teams around the world.
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2021 Enterprise Cohort
Say Hello To Our 2021 Enterprise Cohort! Days for Girls Enterprises are locally-led businesses that bring home-sewn kits, menstrual health education and income-generating opportunities to their communities. Each year, a new global cohort of inspiring leaders graduate from our Social Entrepreneurship Program – and go on to establish thriving DfG Enterprises around the world. Please…
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Menstrual Stigma In Nepal: Key Insights (Part 1)
In the remote foothills of Western Nepal, menstruators face unique and devastating barriers to health, dignity and opportunity. Here, the cultural practice of Chhaupadi banishes menstruating women and girls to cow sheds, mud huts or open fields during their period – exposing them to life-threatening elements and causing unbearable shame. This extreme form of discrimination…
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International Women’s Day 2021
Days for Girls is thrilled to announce that our International Women’s Day campaign was a huge success! Thanks to our supporters – plus generous matching pledges from Global Giving and The Jacobs Family Foundation – we exceeded our goal with $14,000 raised for DfG Lebanon. These critical funds will help our Lebanon team continue their…
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California Makes Strides In The Fight Against Period Poverty
If California Assemblymember Cristina Garcia has her way, all menstruators in her state will soon have access to free period products. Last month, the self-proclaimed “Period Princess” introduced Assembly Bill 367; the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021, which requires all state university and community college campuses, grade 6-12 public schools and state/local municipal…
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.ORG Impact Awards
DfG is excited to announce that we are a two-time winner at this year’s .ORG Impact Awards! It is an honor and privilege to accept the award for both “Combatting Coronavirus” and “.ORG Of The Year” categories. The annual .ORG Awards aim to recognize and celebrate mission-driven organizations changing the world for the better –…
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Global Washington Philanthropy Guide
Days for Girls is proud to be featured in Seattle Foundation and Global Philanthropy’s sixth-annual Global Philanthropy Guide! Each year, the Global Philanthropy Guide shines a light on Washington-based organizations making an impact in low- and middle-income countries. The 2021 Guide focuses on those making strides in the fight against gender-based violence: an insidious problem…
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Days for Girls Honored In Groundbreaking Period Poverty Report
Exciting news! In a groundbreaking new report on Menstrual Health & Hygiene, Days for Girls was named as one of the world’s eight most effective and sustainable organizations fighting to end period poverty. Kulczyk Foundation and Founders Pledge launched A bloody problem: period poverty, why we need to end it and how to do it…
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#Masks4Millions Global Impact
On March 20th, Days for Girls launched our #Masks4Millions campaign to help frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19. We stepped up as soon as the news of mask shortages reached our ears. For us, it wasn’t a question of if we could help but how soon we could start. After all, who better to…
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COVID-19 Statement
As a global health organization, the safety of communities and all Days for Girls volunteers, team members, supporters is very important to us. While COVID-19 continues to impact us all, we wanted to take a moment to reach out and share our ongoing commitment to best health practices. Effective immediately, all DfG volunteer community events…
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Celeste Mergens: 2019 Global Hero Award Recipient
When I received a call from Kristen Daily, executive director of Global Washington, a few weeks ago, I was excited to hear from her. Global Washington is a Seattle-based organization whose mission is to promote international development by coordinating the efforts of other globally-minded philanthropic, research and business organizations. As a longtime Washington resident who…
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The Period Emoji Is Here!
It’s a small enough thing: just a little red droplet. But that little droplet is about to make a big difference to girls everywhere. The period emoji is finally a reality! When the topic of stigmas around menstruation comes up, it is easy to think of the girls who are forced to sleep in huts,…
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Thankfully yours: What 10 years has taught me
I am a gratitude girl. The license plate on my car reads GRATA2D. To me, recognizing the many miracles that occur on any given day is key to both happiness and success. I completely delight in seeing the wonders of life around me. It’s a preoccupation of mine. Which is really easy when you are…
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Turning Periods Into Pathways
All over the world, women and girls share a common bond: our monthly periods. This natural process creates different challenges for each of us, depending on our individual bodies, income, geography, education level, and culture. At our recent Menstrual Hygiene Day presentation in Seattle, we confirmed that when it comes to addressing global health and…
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Introducing the Enterprise Evaluation Report
Every Girl. Everywhere. Period. When Days for Girls set a goal this high, we knew it would require a combination of volunteers, social enterprises, and partners all over the world. In fact, in the same year that we launched our first Days for Girls Chapter, in the United States, we also offered our first Make…
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One Million… And Counting!
YOU DID IT! One million women and girls! Days for Girls Chapters, Teams, Enterprises, Clubs, and volunteers reported their distributions from around the globe, while our partners, supporters, and sponsors created a tidal wave of end-of-year donations. All together, you’ve just made it possible for us to reach our millionth girl — in less than…
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Data Tells Her Story: DfG Launches New M&E Toolkit
Days for Girls volunteers have captured the stories of women and girls and their struggles with menstruation all over the world. We read the stories that our Chapters bring back from Swaziland, Kiribati, and Honduras. We see it in the photos of girls receiving Kits in Malawi, Bangladesh, and Guyana. We experience it in the…
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Huffington Post Features Celeste’s “9 Simple Ways To…”
Days for Girls founder Celeste Mergens wrote a piece for Huffington Post’s 10 year anniversary, helping them look ahead to the next 10 years of global change. The Huff Post’s Next 10 Challenge looks forward into the future, highlighting “causes where we believe meaningful strides can be made in the coming decade.” We’re celebrating DfG’s…
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Happy 6th Birthday, Days for Girls!
Dear Friends, Happy Birthday Days for Girls! Six! Six years of empowering women and girls around the world with days of dignity, health, and education, thanks to Days for Girls supporters. In our sixth year we can declare, superheroes exist! YOU are living proof. As we light the candles on our cake in thankfulness for…
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DfG Announces New Wash Cloth Policy– Please Read!
Days for Girls has announced new policy for Washcloths: ONLY purchased washcloths in kits (no more hand-made — NOT crochet and NOT knit). GIRLS are asking us for the thinner, less expensive washcloths. Our research confirms they dry faster, are softer, and cost less to ship. *PLEASE READ TO THE END* Responding To Feedback One…
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Happy International Day of the Girl
A message from Days for Girl’s founder, Celeste Mergens. Today is the UN proclaimed International Day of the Girl. Growing up, my step-dad often grumbled about wanting a boy. He had 4 girls at the time. In our house there was a lot of talk about women drivers and “don’t be such a girl.” It…