The Evening Branch of the Women’s Alliance program for February is “The Mooncatcher Project,” featuring Ellie von Wellsheim as the speaker.

Ellie von Wellsheim is founder and executive director of the Schenectady-based MoonCatcher Project, which makes and provides free reusable, washable menstrual management kits, called MoonCatcher Kits, for schoolgirls in impoverished communities around the globe. In addition, the organization offers menstrual management and reproductive health classes, and helps set up and support community sewing guilds. The project has grown to include: the United States, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Madagascar, Rwanda, Kingdom of Eswatini, Haiti, Honduras, Pakistan, Bali, Philippines, Australia. As Ellie says,

“You give a girl this [MoonCatcher] kit and for that girl, the problem is solved. She can now take care of her period and carry on — for $5. There’s not that many things you can do in life that make that kind of a difference for that amount of money.” —

Many of us have supported this project through the Dining For Dollars fundraiser that Ellie and others have organized for many years. Past supporter or not, all women are welcome to join us on Zoom to learn more about this innovative program that can change girls’ lives.

While we hope to resume in-person meetings at some point, we will continue on Zoom at least through February. To receive an invitation to join the program on Zoom, please email Gabrielle Reals at ellegr3@gmail.com by Monday, February 20. If you have never used Zoom before, this tutorial will tell you how to do it:  Zoom Tutorial from TCUUC. After you download a free Zoom account, if you need help, contact Judy Clough at mimaclough@yahoo.com.  Best to do this well before the February 23 meeting. Please note: If you have already requested that Judy send you a Zoom invite, you do not need to contact Gabrielle for the upcoming program.

Sign into the meeting between 6:50 and 7:00pm.  After welcoming remarks, the speaker will be introduced. Following the presentation, there will be time for questions.  Networking (when each woman may share something of interest with the group) will begin around 8:15, and the meeting will end no later than 9pm. There is no charge for EBWA programs offered on Zoom, but in order for us to be able to pay our speakers an honorarium, we need your help. Please consider subscribing by sending a $30 check made out to EBWA to Carol Furman (contact her at cfurm13@gmail.com to learn where to send your check).

To see the complete calendar of EBWA Programs for 2022-2023, please click here.