Reducing barriers

We have learned that one of the biggest educational barriers teen girls face is the ability to attend school during their monthly cycle. By providing feminine hygiene and personal care products for distribution through our partner schools and organizations in Kenya and Guatemala, we strive to give women and teen girls the dignity and self-care items they need to stay in school, work, and thrive.

Since 2009, e3kids international has worked internationally to reduce barriers for girls to stay in school, complete their education, achieve their goals, and become productive citizens.

But when the pandemic hit in 2020, e3kids was unable to visit the schools in Kenya due to travel restrictions.  With a surplus of donated items, the question was how to best use those products. Should e3kids wait until travel restrictions were lifted?  Was there another organization that could use them?  

Out of conversation, we decided to hold a Just Us Girls event in Stafford, Virginia where we distributed personal care and hygiene products to at-risk local teen girls and women. In March 2021, with the help and support of local organizations, over 100 girls and women were positively impacted by the project.

It revealed that the barriers to education for teen girls are deeply felt not just internationally but locally — right here in Virginia, too! Feeling called to do more, e3kids launched the Just Us Girls Project in August of 2021. 

Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, e3kids worked with 39 social workers and key personnel in Stafford County Public Schools to provide feminine hygiene products to girls who lack financial resources to purchase products during their monthly cycle. As period poverty affects a significant number of girls and women in our region, Just Us Girls hopes to expand its reach to more middle and high schools within Spotsylvania County and the City of Fredericksburg during the 2022-2023 school year.

Raising awareness and finding solutions to period poverty in Stafford, Virginia and surrounding areas helps to ensure girls are able to attend school, participate in sports and work after school during their monthly cycles. Reducing barriers and stigmas empower girls to rise above these challenges and give them opportunities to overcome their fears and economic obstacles and to move forward in life.

Goals for the future:

• Reduce period poverty among girls 11-18 years old.

• Expand the program to reach students in middle and high schools in the City of Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties.

• Provide a forum for girls to submit anonymous questions regarding menstruation.

• Provide educational materials and pamphlets about female menstruation and body changes to reduce the shame and stigma around menstruation and to raise awareness of menstrual inequalities, period poverty, and community needs

• Form an Advisory Committee to begin ongoing discussions with female representatives from all socioeconomic backgrounds throughout Fredericksburg and surrounding counties.

• Raise funds to increase our product offerings for girls and women of color

• Provide sustainable options for vulnerable girls to carry them through nights, weekends, and holidays.

What we’ve achieved:

• January 2024 - 100’s of period underwear, bras, underwear and socks were distributed in El Salvador to girls and Women in an orphanage school.

• October 2023 - Delivered period underwear, bras and underwear to over 50 women and girls in a romote area in Miraikani Kenya. Working to empower girls to be in school during their monthly cycles and have a brighter future.

• In Virginia during 2023, e3kids delivered 1000’s of feminine hygiene kits, 1000’s of bras, underwear, and socks to area schools and homeless and refugee centers in Fredericksburg, Stafford, King George, Culpeper, and Norhtern Virginia.

• Feburary 2023 - Delivered feminie hygeine products to over 750 girls and women in Kenya at several schools. Over 2500 bras, underwear, 20,000 pads, 2000 pairs of period underwear, 1000 dresses, 1000 shoes, and other health care products. Healthcare classes were lead by a nurse and educational information distributed on feminie care.

• January 2022 - Reflecting on the impact of 2021: 17000 feminine pads, 9000 tampons, 3500 bras, 600 pairs of underwear, over 250 multicultural hair products, along with 1000s of shampoos, deodorants, toothpaste, lotions and sunscreen have been delivered to vulnerable females both locally and internationally.

• November 2021 - Awarded grant from Transurban International.

• November 2021 - Supplied preschool children at Royal Kids School in Kenya with polo shirts and khaki pants.

• November 2021 - Provided period underwear (100 pairs), bras (150) and pads (6500+) to females in and around Mikindani, Kenya.

• September 2021 - Awarded Rotary District Grant from North Stafford Rotary.

• August 2021 - Partnered with Stafford County Schools to provide 39 social workers and key personnel with feminine hygiene boxes filled with individual packages for elementary, middle, and high school female students in need.

• August 2021 - Supplied school counselors and social workers in Spotsylvania County with individual and monthly packs and bras for female students in need.

• July 2021 - Provided bras and feminine hygiene products to several teen girls whose families are living in hotels.

• March 2021 - Hosted a neighborhood event providing over 100 women and girls with personal care products, feminine hygiene products, bras, and clothing.

 You can make a difference

• Shop with purpose by buying items from our Amazon wish list here

• Give generously to help provide teen girls with the items they need. For drop off / pick-up locations email JustUsGirls@e3kids.com.

  • New underwear for girls, teens, and women in all sizes

  • Tampons, Pads, and Liners in all sizes

  • Feminine wipes, body cleaning wipes

  • Multicultural hair care products: Shampoo, Conditioners, Sheens, and Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion (Camille Rose, Shea Moisture, African Pride, Carol’s Daughter, ORS, Lusters, Isoplus, or other brands)

  • Goody Ouchless Hair Ties, brushes, and combs

  • New crew socks in all sizes (white or black)

  • Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss

  • Body wash, Bar soap, Deodrant, Body Spray, Shampoo, Conditioner

  • Lotions, Lip Balm, Shea Butter Moisturizer

• Donate funds below to support the ongoing mission of this project

• Get involved individually or with a group by volunteering to prep monthly boxes for women and girls. Check out our volunteer page for dates and times or contact us at JustUsGirls@e3kids.com for more information.