Speaking to Anabela from the Casa de Nossa Senhora da Conceição girls’ Home in Portimão about challenges the home faced, toiletries were a constant concern.
Did you know that, on average, 1.8 billion women and girls menstruate every month worldwide? The average woman uses 240 personal hygiene products each year. It’s just another item on the shopping list for the more fortunate, but some are more concerned about this monthly expense.
Period poverty is a worldwide problem that is more widespread than you would expect. Budgets are so tight in places like the Casa de Nossa Senhora da Conceição that an outlay of just €50 a month on feminine hygiene products has an impact. The girls also need either roll-on or spray deodorant; even ankle socks are a struggle to provide. They also don’t often have the recourse to buy the girls snacks to take to school, such as juice packets and store cupboard essentials, such as olive oil and butter. So maybe you could throw a few extra items into your trolley the next time you visit the supermarket and contact the home to check when you can deliver them.
In addition to the basic items, the girls’ home is looking to raise €5,000 to fix the building’s elevator, which urgently needs maintenance. Government subsidies are always very limited and funding often falls short of covering any extraordinary expenses or improvements that must be made to keep the facilities up to date.
The elevator is old, and since the construction of the house 20 years ago, it has never had a major maintenance intervention. It is used for children with mobility issues who have difficulties accessing the various floors of the house.
The girls also need resources to help them study, and so they are looking for five desk chairs for the library to go with the five computers they bought with last year’s donations.
+351 282410570
Bank account for donations: PT003506480000918233243 (Caixa Geral de Depósitos)