YWCA Delaware Partners with Water is Life Kenya to Address Period Poverty Locally and Globally

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YWCA Delaware is celebrating the success of a recent period product drive that provided essential support to individuals across New Castle County and sparked hope far beyond U.S. borders. In partnership with Water Is Life Kenya, Women at Amazon MTN1, and Amazon’s Black Employee Network (BEN), the initiative collected 18 boxes of menstrual care items, including pads, tampons, period underwear, and more, which were distributed to YWCA Delaware’s Home-Life Management Center, Delaware Futures, Pretty Moody, the Route 9 Library, and the William Hicks Anderson Community Center (WHACC).

“Some of our partners in our community reached out and expressed the need for donated menstrual products, so we decided to partner with Amazon and Water Is Life Kenya to bridge the period poverty gap.” said Camille Vasconcellos, YWCA Delaware’s Youth Program Manager. “Access to menstrual care is often overlooked but plays a significant role in educational equity and personal well-being.”

A 2021 study in BMC Women’s Health found that 14% of college students regularly struggle to afford menstrual products.

In Delaware, state lawmakers responded to similar challenges by passing legislation in 2021 that requires public and charter schools (grades 6–12) to offer free menstrual products in at least half of school bathrooms. The law was informed by research showing one in four students had missed class due to lack of access.

“We organized this drive where the products would go to YWCA Delaware to distribute locally, but we’re also matching the drive in Kenya,” said Aaron Lemma, Director of U.S. Operations for Water Is Life Kenya. “Water access is a big issue. When girls don’t have clean water, they can’t go to school, and when they don’t have access to products, they can’t go to school.”

For every local donation, a matching contribution from Water is Life Kenya will be made to girls in rural Kenyan communities, providing them with reusable menstrual kits, hygiene education, and access to safe and sanitary learning environments.

Anyone interested in helping continue this work can organize a period product drive for YWCA Delaware or donate items directly. Every contribution will help someone stay in school, go to work, and live with dignity. To get involved or to request products, contact CVasconcellos@ywcade.org.
ABOUT YWCA DELAWARE

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YWCA Delaware, established in 1895, is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Through safe housing, 24/7 SARC crisis response, financial counseling, advocacy, youth development programs, and regional centers in Wilmington, New Castle, and Georgetown, we drive meaningful change for individuals and families across Delaware. Learn more at www.ywcade.org and follow @ywcade on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

ABOUT WATER IS LIFE KENYA

Water is Life Kenya (WILK) is a US-based charitable organization who operates with boots on the ground in Kajiado County, Southern Kenya. For 15 years years WILK has worked primarily with indigenous Maasai people in southern Kenya. The mission of Water is Life Kenya is to spark personal, economic, and community development in marginalized communities in Kenya, according to existing customs and culture, by providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, empowering women, and equipping people to develop income through improved resource management. Learn more at waterislifekenya.org.