The Days for Girls Kit
"You feel free. You can go anywhere you want. You are comfortable…you can jump, run, do whatever you want to do.”
– Rachel, Nairobi, Kenya,
3 years after receiving her DfG Kit
Developing the DfG Kit has been a labor of love. We've gone through 29 iterations, incorporating feedback from thousands of women and girls around the globe in the design process.
The result? A solution that has been reported by users to last for up to 3 years, has earned U.S. Patent No. 9,877,878 and in Uganda where washable pads are required to be certified for quality by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) DfG Pads have Standard US 1782: 2017 for washable sanitary pads. Quality and user-centered design.
It all starts with a DfG POD (Portable Object of Dignity), the basic unit Days for Girls Kit. PODs contain 1 waterproof shield and 2 absorbent liners. PODs are the seed for Enterprises, because they can be sold at an affordable price point, and women can add components in the future. Because DfG Kits last years, this
is a timeline that works for many women. Days for Girls prioritizes using locally-available materials whenever possible.
The Supreme Days for Girls Kit is the deluxe version of a Kit, and what is made by our Chapters and Teams around the world. It contains the materials shown to the right.
You may notice that these Kits don't look like traditional pads...and there's a reason for that. The bright colors camouflage staining. The absorbent liners unfold to look like a washcloth, which allows women to wash and dry them outside in the sun without causing embarrassment. All of these design choices add up to a lasting, easy-to-care-for solution.
1 drawstring bag to hold all components
8 absorbent liners
1 Transport Bag for washing and storage
Has high user-acceptance in a variety of settings
Uses little water
Dries quickly
Saves money over disposables
Is Comfortable
2 waterproof shields
1 care & use sheet
1 bar of soap
1 washcloth
2 pairs of panties
Each DfG Kit has been hand-sewn by volunteers or enterprise leaders who are held to our quality standards. Why? Because what the girls see matters; to us and to them. No one wants to use ugly period products — not even those of us with easy access to them. Have you seen Tampax boxes lately?! They’re beautiful, and that’s on purpose. DfG Kits are no different! We want the girls to love and feel comfortable using them.
That’s why all of our Kit components come in a beautiful drawstring bag. The fabrics are bright to make each user feel special. The drawstring is made extra long so that girls can carry their Kit like a backpack. After all, many girls have to walk long distances to school or work, and this makes it handy for her to carry her pads … and whatever else she needs.
Here’s what is packed inside the drawstring bags:
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Two pairs of underwear: A crucial part of the DfG Kit is underwear, because after all, if girls don’t have anywhere to put the pads, they can’t use them. The other elements, shields and liners, can’t function without underwear, and we don’t ever want that to be a barrier for a girl in need.
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Two shields: Think of these as a pad with wings. They are made from two pieces of cotton (with moisture-barrier fabric between to prevent leaks), and wings that fold around her underwear and snap in place. Our shields are made of beautiful, printed fabrics for comfort — and to hide stains. They have two pockets on either side of the shield that hold our liners in place. The pockets are deep enough for double or triple liners when she has a heavy flow.
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Eight liners: These liners go in the shields and act as the “pad” part of the Kit. Our liners look like washcloths. That’s so girls can wash and hang them out to dry without any embarrassment. They are made from 100% cotton flannel so they’re washable with very little water and quick to dry in the sun.
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Soap and washcloth: We add a few extras in her Kit, including a bar of soap for washing her pads, and a washcloth for cleansing her body. There’s no better feeling than a nice shower during your period. It makes you feel fresh, clean, and ready to take on the world. Girls who receive DfG Kits deserve that same feeling, but may not have access to these items. By including them in the Kit, we ensure that all girls can take care of themselves — and their liners.
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Instructions: This is one of the most important aspects of the Kit! We provide a pictorial instruction sheet that shows how to use the shields and liners, as well as how to wash them. But that’s not all! On the back side, there is a menstrual chart to help track periods. This helps each user know when to expect her period, so she can bring her supplies with her.
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Transport bag: All of the kits also include a transport bag that acts as a dirty laundry hamper as well as a washing machine. The bag, made of a moisture proof fabric, is designed so she can discreetly carry her dirty liners back home or on her way to wash them.
It doesn’t fit in a bag, but we always include health education during our Kit distributions. It’s crucial that girls learn about their menstrual cycle, good washing practices, health, safety, and why being a woman is worth celebrating! Education is the key to creating long-lasting, sustainable change in communities and breaking down many of the barriers girls face. Our Kits are not complete without education!
If you want to learn more about where we distribute Kits or what a Kit means to a girl who receives it, check out some of their stories.
DfG Enterprises offer several versions of Kits to suit different needs. Components for each of these versions are listed below:
The POD
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1 Days for Girls Shields
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2 Days for Girls Liners
DfG POD Plus
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2 Days for Girls Shields
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4 Days for Girls Liners
SUPREME DfG KIT
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2 Days for Girls Shields
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8 Days for Girls Liners
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2 panties
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1 small soap
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1 washcloth
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1 menstrual chart & pictorial instruction
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1 Days for Girls Transport bag
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1 Days for Girls Drawstring Bag
HEAVY FLOW
DfG KIT
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2 Heavy Flow length Days for Girls Shields
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8 Heavy Flow Days for Girls Liners
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2 panties
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1 small soap
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1 washcloth
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1 menstrual chart & pictorial instruction
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1 Days for Girls Transport Bag
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1 Days for Girls Drawstring Bag
DfG MENSTRUAL CUP
The DfG Menstrual Cup is an incredible option for women and girls to manage their menstruation. The cup is inserted, much like a tampon, but instead of absorbing menses, menses are collected. The DfG Menstrual Cup is FDA approved, made of medical grade silicone, and has been reported by users to last up to 10 years. It comes with a washing cup (for sanitizing) and a satin bag for storage. It is vital that care and hygiene instructions are taught when Menstrual Cups are distributed, as there is risk of infections increasing without proper hygiene and care.