AID PROGRAM

***News Flash! ***  - see bottom of page!

As stated in the 'about us' page, Rad-Pads believes woman and girls should have the right to menstruate in a peaceful, non toxic environment.  While we can't always do alot about other peoples circumstances, we can initiate support in small ways which can make a big difference.  We wish to support women who are disadvantaged in some way by donating Rad-Pads products for their use.  Many women in war zones or who are refugees are in dire financial straits and we want to assist this by providing a product which helps their health, finances and the environment.

DONATE TO 'CLOTH PAD PROJECT', Afghanistan. 

Through Mahboba's Promise (registered charity).  Create a gift that lasts! 

Near the end of 2006, Rad-Pads, in conjunction with Jane Bennett of "Natural Fertility Management" (enquiries@fertility.com.au) and Alexandra Pope (author The Wild Genie, co-author "The Pill - are you sure it's for you?"  donated a good size box full of Rad-Pads products to some disadvantaged women in Kabul, Afghanistan.  After learning of Mahboba's story (see her book Mahboba's Promise or go to website www.mahbobaspromise.org we felt inspired to make a contribution through Mahboba's Promise and were able to ship the Rad-Pads directly to Kabul. 

Many of the women in Kabul who have been left without an income and even at times without a home have had to use old rags at best for menstruation and there are  reportedly considerable problems with pelvic infections due to lack of availability of good quality menstrual cloths and the hygeine education to go with it. 

The shipment finally reached it's destination this month and the Rad-Pads were received extremely well by the women. 

We are now having discussions with Mahboba's Promise which is a registered charity to work together to help set up a workshop for the women who are involved in Kabul to make and sell their own Rad-Pads.  This way the women are able to benefit directly from the pads by having lasting menstrual pads, employment opportunities and their dignitiy restored to some extent.  It is going to take alot of work and as much money, so if you are interested in being a part of this initiative, any donations can be made directly to Mahboba's Promise for this project which we are calling "CLOTH PAD PROJECT" .

Mahboba's Promise has now commenced their "Gifts That Give' program, whereby donations can be made to a specific area.  Please see their website www.mahbobaspromise.org. or phone (02) 9887 1665. 

 If you are wishing to donate to the Cloth Pad Project please place a note with your donation to have the donation earmarked for the Cloth Pad Project.

February 2009 -  Wendy Dumaresq, owner of Rad-Pads and Natural Woman Network has made a personal donation to get the ball rolling on the project, and her donation will be to finance a sewing machine to start practicalities of the project.

 Rad-Pads is also donating more cloth ready-cut for sewing. 

Yay for women - United we stand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*****************************************************************************************************************************

 OTESHA Project 

 This great community organisation run for and by young people focusses on sustainable living and social justice issues in a novel way - through adventurous programs such as one about to get underway -

'Cycling For Sustainability" - cycles tours -  Brisbane - Newcastle, 15 -November to 22nd December, and Melbourne regional loop tour (no, not the City loop!) - 18th January  to 1st March 2009.

Contact the website www.otesha.org.au/biketours/apply for more information. 

************************************************************************************************************************

Christian Brothers Victorian Young Adult Community (Melbourne)  - Sudanese community.

NFM Kits and Rad-Pads have just sent a donation of  Rad-Pads to a number of Sudanese women in this Melbourne community.  We are very pleased to have the assistance of a young woman from Ballarat, Amelia Tobias who works in a voluntary capacity in this community.  Amelia has volunteered to teach the women how to use the Rad-Pads and help determine their needs.  It is anticipated that if the women like using the Rad-Pads, the community will apply for funding to procure enough Rad-Pads at the lowest possible price for the use of all women and girls in the community who are interested in using cloth menstrual pads.

Thanks go to Amelia for her great work.  Amelia can be contacted on 0409 217 666 if there are any equiries to be made regarding the program.