Episode 016: Period Poverty, Gender Equality & Resilience with DfG Founder Celeste Mergens

The Days for Girls Podcast

Celeste Mergens is the founder and CEO of Days for Girls International. Since 2008, she has grown the organization from a small group of local sewists into an award-winning, global NGO serving menstruators and their communities in 144 countries (and counting). A heart-centered and compassion-driven visionary, Celeste has dedicated her life to showing every girl, everywhere that she is strong, worthy and capable of extraordinary things – and giving her the tools she needs to thrive, starting with menstrual health.

In this very special podcast episode, Celeste walks us through the founding of Days for Girls, the inspiration behind the mission and what drives her to lead this work every single day (including her own story of trauma and resilience). She also dives into the power of locally-led solutions, the multilayered impact of the DfG Enterprise Program, the benefits of washable period products…and so much more!

Highlights:

• The DfG origin story: how working with girls in a Kenyan orphanage prompted the birth of Days for Girls
• How Celeste mobilized the first DfG volunteers and garnered support for the cause through the “power of invitation”
• Why reaching every girl, everywhere needs to be a global, collaborative movement
• How Celeste’s own experience growing up with poverty, homelessness and trauma fueled a core motivation to show girls that they matter – regardless of their circumstance
• How the menstrual equity movement fits into the broader feminist movement
• Why locally-led solutions and empowering local leaders is the future of Days for Girls
• How the Social Entrepreneurship program empowers local women, families and entire communities to thrive
• The importance of period product choice and the case for washable pads
• How you, the listener, can help Days for Girls meet our most urgent needs and bring sustainable solutions to more menstruators than ever

Quotes:

Why shattering the stigma around menstruation is critical to addressing the roots of gender inequity

“For me, this conversation of shifting that stigma is actually at the root - at the base - of how we bought into the lie that women should ever be less than completely at the table. I believe this is one of the roots to it. So for me, I am a lion about this because we must change this….this is something we can shift with correct solutions that work and conversations and education. How amazing is that? I love, love, love that this is one of the things that is at the root. Because this? This one we've got.”

On the importance of menstrual equity

“There are so many things that are hard to change in this world, but reversing menstrual equity, and the gender inequity that happens as a result [isn’t one of them]. And the wounds, if you will, the body pain that we share…can heal with something as small as a pad and education, opening doors to end that inequity and to bring shattered stigma and shame.”

How DfG pads change lives and set menstruators free

“If you don't have what you need, it's truly bondage by your basic biology, and how can it not affect your confidence? So women, menstruators and girls all over the world should have what they need… if you have something you can count on month after month, if this little bundle of a pad that can be in your glove compartment or your purse, and no matter what happens to economic supply chain resources in your community, you have something you can count on. It is freedom.”

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