Taking the 165-km trip from Nairobi to Solai was not easy, yet not hard—just a good day for girls. The highway was decent but dwindled to a packed road, until passing through the entrance of the village of Solai. The roads were in the process of reconstruction. Nakuru, the point to pick up a leader, Margaret a member of a small group of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and her daughter, Yvonne, volunteered to show the way and connect the volunteers bringing hygiene kits for distribution to the young women and girls in the flood area of Solai.
During a quick tour of the area, volunteers noted the flood waters had washed a canyon through the village where farms and homesteads once stood. The rushing water had wiped out every trace of life through the devastated zone. A mass grave sits on a hilltop where some of the 47 were buried. “I’m so sorry,” were the only words anyone could utter.
Arriving at compound, the group of volunteers were shown the large container which held all donated goods. Margret introduced Charles, local chief of Solai, and Vicki, Assistant County Commissioner to the volunteers. Charles told them because it was a holiday it would be best to come back next week. The group was prepared to deliver 200 washable, re-usable hygiene kits and once Charles knew this, he smiled and his eyes brightened. He said to give him 30 minutes to get the women together.
Women poured into the holding grounds and waited for their gifts. Charles put a table in the shade of a tree and Margaret and Yvonne queued the women as volunteers began to explain to the female villagers the hygiene kit and how it was to be used. Yvonne handed out little booklets to the young boys and girls. Everyone wanted a gift.
Thanks to an enterprise, Days For Girls (DFG), who prepares and distributes sustainable menstrual health solutions—200 young women were appreciative that day. The hygiene kits for girls who would otherwise miss school during their monthly periods were grateful and now able to take care of their own hygiene needs discreetly with the contents in the colorful little bags.