AwakeningNations
From Our CEO and President: Tracy Lee- Where It All Began
July 2018 I had the privilege of traveling with a team to South Africa on my second international mission trip. The team was exposed to the resiliency and the beauty of the people. We were also exposed to some of the hardships. While on visit to Kliptown which is an informal settlement in the heart of Soweto, the mission team met Vusumuzi . Vusi is passionate about the improvement and the quality of life for the young people of Kliptown. The young people value education, although a large number of the girls do not attend school because there is a lack of access to sanitary pads. The girls will stay home during menstruation. This begins a cycle for absenteeism, falling behind in school, low self-esteem and continued poverty. According to the 2011 SA Census their is approximately 1,090 girls ages 10-25 and 503 do not attend school. I made a personal commitment before I left South Africa that I would take steps to ensure lack of sanitary supplies would not be the reason that any young woman or girl was kept from receiving an education. -Tracy Lee
Menstrual Matters
History of the Menstrual Needs in Kilptown, South Africa
Due to sanitation strikes in the area the community has to result to burning trash to minimize rodents, bugs, and flies in the area. By providing the girls and young women in Kliptown with handmade reusable sanitary supplies we not only assist in community education but also environmentally safe methods of sanitation. There is an estimated 2.6 school age, menstruating females in across South Africa. Help us to change individual lives, families, communities and nations. We believe we will see supplies leading to increase self-esteem, confidence, education, knowledge, employment, and entrepreneurship. We know that the young women and girls we serve will reach other girls in the community. We will see family change, community change, life change and nation change.
Answering the Call and Meeting the Need Tangibly
God has called Created by His Design, Inc. to be an answer and we are answering that call!. As an organization we are committed to the improvement of the lives of the young women in Kliptown. Disposable sanitary pads cost on average R25 for 8 pads Most packages can average up to R55. Money for sanitary pads can be difficult to obtain resulting to using old rags, cloths or socks. This can lead to infection among other problems. These items may not be as absorbent as needed to protect their clothing from becoming visibly stained or minimizing odor while in school.
Meeting the Spiritual Needs
While meeting a tangible need we also bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to young women and girls in Kliptown. We purpose to sow in to every area of their lives that we can.
Partnership with Dignity Dreams
Created by His Design, Inc. partners with Dignity Dreams to obtain washable pads for the young women and girls in Africa.
Important facts about Dignity Dreams washable pads:
1 pad is equivalent to 148 disposable pads.
By properly following instructions, 6 pads can last 48 months.
Dignity Dreams washable pads are SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) absorbency approved and can absorb up to 15 ml of liquid (about 0.063 US cup / 0.507 oz).
Can be changed every 4 – 6 hours
The Girls We Serve
We have been able to fund our first 12 girls in South Africa. Each of the young ladies received sanitary supplies that will last 48 months (4yrs). Along with a full length Jesus centered bible with dictionary and concordance. Each young lady also received a guide on prayer and scripture that speaks to the truth of who she is in Christ.