September is here!
Fall is a busy time for everyone – and this is certainly true for The MoonCatcher Project. We are working hard to keep all of our tailors sewing, hosting presentations and MoonBees, sending kit supplies to our small army of volunteers around the country and constantly raising money to make it all happen.
If you live locally, it isn’t too late to join us for our Annual MoonWine and Cheese Party. Come and celebrate girls around the world, enjoy a glass of wine (or other beverage) and delicious finger foods while meeting the wonderful people who make our work possible.
Wednesday, September 20
5:00-6:30 PM
DETAILS HERE
Many thanks to our local friends at The First Reformed Church of Schenectady! This wonderful congregation continues to support our work with annual grants totaling more than $20,000 over the years. That means more than 4,000 girls in Africa are now able to manage menstruation with confidence and dignity because of their generosity. We are so grateful!
UPDATE AFRICA AND INDIA
In Kenya, our colleagues have been busy! A recent visit to the Kipsamoi Mixed Secondary School in the town of Sotik, found 200 schoolgirls eagerly awaiting their new MoonCatcher Kits.
Later, our partners Bella and Jacky visited the St. Francis School for the Hearing Impaired where they taught the MoonCatcher curriculum and distributed kits.
The Kitale Women’s prison, located north of Kisumu, is home to many young women of school age who are incarcerated for prostitution. Most of them are actually victims of sexual exploitation and assault. An ongoing volunteer education program allows inmates to complete their high school education. We are proud that our newest Kenyan partner, Justine Mwanzi, visited this institution to provide MoonCatcher Kits and education to these students.
In Uganda Phoebe and her team are hard at work making 700 kits that will be distributed during return visits to schools we have partnered with over several years.
Our partners in India (The Shashi Kiran Charitable Trust) recently delivered MoonCatcher Kits to girls in the State of Jharkhand in the eastern part of India.
There are plenty of MoonBees coming up and we would love to see you! Everyone is welcome to attend. Check out our calendar.
A Note from Charlotte
Since moving back to New York from Florida at the end of June, I’ve been adjusting to navigating my new/old life in a lot of different ways. It feels like an overdue homecoming for me. To be welcomed back with such open arms from both The MoonCatcher Project and CREATE Community Studios (an expressive arts studio where I am also employed) has made my decision to move home my best decision to date.
While I’ve volunteered for MCP for nearly a decade, served on the board, and gone to Africa twice, over these last couple of weeks I am learning so much more about the complexities of running an international nonprofit. I’ve known Ellie for a long time now, and she’s always been the amazing woman I’ve looked up to. Working more closely with her only makes my awe of her expand. Ellie is a real life super-hero. Her core being exudes such tremendous kindness and compassion it’s impossible for it not to be contagious.
I feel an overwhelming amount of gratitude to Ellie and the MCP Board for choosing me to play such a vital role moving forward. Thank you all so much.
The MCP mission is simple, and what we do directly impacts the lives of girls. I am excited to expand our work, to learn about marketing, fundraising, social media, and more. I am excited to shine light on our amazing team, support Ellie, host MoonBees, give presentations, and, most importantly, help more girls stay in school.
I’m also extremely excited for changing seasons, NYS health care, Halloween, mountains, creeks, and Jumpin Jacks. I love NY almost as much as I love MCP!
Be Well Everyone!