History of the Sew and Sews, Logan, Utah
The Sew and Sews have been an active sewing group for approximately eight years. To contact Sew and Sews, please email Linda Roberts here.
In early 2010, following a mission trip to Uganda, the vision came together for providing washable, reusable menstrual pads for Ugandan school girls.
In providing these hygiene products to school girls, our purpose was, and stills is, to help these girls continue their education for as long as possible. Typically, girls did not attend school while having their menses because of inadequate protection.
Each month girls missed school for a varying number of days. This resulted in their falling behind academically and potentially losing motivation and leaving school. Studies have confirmed that world-wide the more formal education girls receive, the better the economic future will be not only for the girls but also their community and country.
Though the design and construction of these pads has changed over the years, the Sew and Sews’ purpose and dedication has not changed. From the initial year of sending only 100 pads, we now send approximately 100 pad kits annually. Kits contain multiple pads, washing instructions, laundry soap and a gallon zip lock bag in which to store soiled pads and also to use as a washing container. These kits, along with basic education in women’s health, are delivered directly to the students when SEEEME, the humanitarian group under whose umbrella we operate, annually travels to Uganda for their work.
The Sew and Sews meet one afternoon a week from September through June of each year. Anyone interested in contributing to this project is welcome to attend these sewing sessions. It is not necessary to know how to sew; there are a variety of skills needed for making the pads and kits, skills such as ironing, cutting fabric or patterns, pinning, attaching snaps, etc.
Materials for the pad project are donated or paid for through fund raising. Funds are also raised for the purchase of treadle sewing machines that are given to groups around Uganda who are interested in sewing pads themselves and perhaps selling them as a small business. Along with the machines, the Sew and Sews provide Ugandans with start up sewing kits that contain instructions for making the pads, as well as patterns, material, and basic sewing notions.