Yorkits: Growing and spreading

Yorkits - making and supplying washable feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries

The main photograph (above), supplied by Tanzanian aid worker Alice Kostrzewa, shows a group of schoolchildren in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania, proudy displaying their personal hygiene kits, locally made from templates provided by Yorkits. Image source is Yorkits ©

Stewarding for Yorkits workshop at York Minster in International Women’s Week - Thursday, March 5, 2026

There are two sessions in the day: morning session from 10.00 am to 12.30; and the afternoon session from 13.30 -16.00.

Yorkits relies on Rotary York Ainsty to help get everyone registered and settled as smoothly as possible. It gets very busy when everyone arrives at once.

Volunteers can book tickets (free) to attend the event via the York Minster events website. When they arrive at the registration desk, they can sign in and give an email address if they want to receive newsletters in the future. They can also pick up a name badge to wear while they are in the Minster. With school parties, the leader can register with the number of students they have in their party, but all the students should have a name badge to enable friendliness.

Could volunteers also offer a copy of any free information available (postcards with meeting details, latest newsletter etc). Also, inform attendees that tea/coffee will be brought round to where they are sitting by members of the Minster community. The Yorkits team on the work tables will also give these messages.

Pass 'new' volunteers to one of the Yorkits team (who will be wearing Yorkits aprons or red sashes). They will find them a place at one of the work tables.

We understand that there will be less room available than last year so the space available to place Rotary banners/information will be limited to a single pull up and leaflets. We hope to have the Yorkits pull up returned and Yorkits will supply the pull-up display and postcards.

The Minster team will have set up the area with tables, chairs etc, and will dismantle them after the event is over. The Yorkits team will have set up the sewing machines and materials for kit making, and the Yorkits display table. We will remove all of that afterwards. We hope that a Rotarian will be able to take back the RYA banner etc.

Many thanks to all helpers from the Yorkits team.

ABOVE: Stewarding for Yorkits workshop at York Minster in International Women’s Week - Thursday, March 5, 2026

For the past ten years, the Yorkits project of Rotary York Ainsty has been making washable, reusable period kits for girls around the world to lessen the period poverty burden.

The group has made an average of 300 kits each year since the project began. Kits have gone to twenty-five countries, refugee camps and women’s refuges.

In March 2023, the group ran its 8^thInternational Women’s Week workshop in York Minster - resulting in 70 finished kits and many more partially completed. Nearly 250 kits have already been sent out in the first 6 months this year.

Tackling period poverty one kit at a time

Every month, 1.8 billion people across the world menstruate. However, it’s estimated that at least 500 million women and girls lack access to the facilities they need to manage their periods Having access to period products is also a major barrier for women and girls worldwide.

For many girls around the world, getting their period means putting their lives on hold as stigma, embarrassment and lack of appropriate toilets and facilities can exclude them from daily activities. Many women and girls also have limited information on how to manage their periods as well as lack of access to period products. Period poverty doesn’t just affect women in girls in developing countries. In 2021, 50% of girls in the UK said they couldn’t afford period products at some point

Each kit includes: eight pads; two pad pockets; a waterproof bag for carrying soiled items; two pairs of knickers; a flannel; and a resealable polythene bag to use as a makeshift washing machine in areas with poor access to water; instructions with diagrams; and a postcard with kind messages from Yorkits. The contents are all packed into a discreet fabric drawstring bag and sent to where they are needed.

A kit can last a girl three years, which equates to 200 days of education she does not have to miss because of menstruation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YORKITS - CLICK HERE

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Yorkits Winter Newsletter 2025

Update on Yorkits activities

Santa Sleigh details

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The main projects supported by Rotary York Ainsty as at March 2024...

A 'Signature' project for Rotary York Ainsty. Members collect glasses from opticians then sort and grade them, before taking to Africa. RUTH PEROTT awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's honours. Link: https://tinyurl.com/MBESpecSort

York optometrist Ruth Perrott was honoured with the award of an MBE in the Queen's New Year's 2021 list for her work in supporting visually impaired patients in Africa. She recently attended a ceremony where she received her award from Prince William.

Full results and detail of the RYA Santa Sleigh in York and district in the run-up to Christmas 2024

Sow, Grow and Share is now an over-arching title which encompasses the various diverse initiatives including Rotary York Ainsty providing growing kits to produce fresh food for participants in the York locale.

Rotary York Ainsty has honoured York-based charities and individuals who partnered with Rotary to mitigate the effects of the Covid-10 Pandemic on the communities in York and district

A varied series of meetings with guest speakers, activities and projects.

Rotary York Ainsty membership opportunities are listed and detailed here - click on the image to advance to the detail.

A joint initiative with local organisations and schools to plant crocuses, the purple crocus blooms reminding all of the on-going threat of poliomyelitis to the world's children.

Team players wanted to join us in our many York community-based projects - with local, national and international benefits. Find out more below.

Team players wanted to join us to assist us in our many community initiatives - with INTERNATIONAL benefits... Find out more here.

Yorkits - making and supplying washable feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries

Eco Angels is a Rotary York Ainsty (RYA) initiative that aims to transform waste plastic into attractive Angels. For a voluntary donation to the Yorkits project (which helps to change lives) RYA is providing basic armature shaped kits.

Hard at work at the York Minster Yorkits workshop 2023

Yorkits - making and supplying washable feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries

Rotary York Ainsty Rotarians embark on a purple crocus planting campaign to mark World Polio Day on October 24 at the Folk Hall, New Earswick, York.

Rotary York Ainsty Rotarians embark on a massive purple crocus planting campaign to mark World Polio Day on October 24 at the Folk Hall, New Earswick, York.

The remote and difficult to get to area of Fushë Arrëz in Albania

Rotary York Ainsty, working in cooperation with two other Rotary Clubs in different countries, is developing a project which will bring medical aid to a remote region of Albania - Fushë Arrëz.

Annie Arkwright hands over another batch of SpecSort glasses to the Navajeevana Centre, Sri Lanka.

The highly-regarded SpecSort initiative - a flagship project of Rotary York Ainsty - is expanding its sphere of operation by delivering sorted and graded pre-owned glasses to more countries across the globe.

Greening the Groves is a York initiative supported by YOUR local Rotary Club - Rotary York Ainsty

August 2025 Rotary York Ainsty supports ShelterBox with £1,000 for rapid disaster relief.

A York-based organic nursery and craft workshop is providing a safe and secure community working environment for those with learning difficulties.

Rotary York Ainsty is getting its gloves on to assist a community boxing club in the city.

ToyLikeMe is a York-based community-interest company which encourages and influences toy manufacturers to consider disability when designing their products.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organised by Rotary clubs and districts where teenagers develop skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.

Rotary York Ainsty Associate Membership - What is involved - What is expected.

A photographic record of some visits (both ways) in recent years

Three examples of how you can assist those less fortunate via Rotary membership

How to show an interest in joining Rotary York Ainsty - A selection of membership application forms

Rotary York Ainsty supports Door 84 - a York city centre for youth

What is Rotary all about? Some interesting facts and figures

Santa on tour with Rotary York Ainsty Rotarian 'collection Elves' - Peter Kendall, John Merchant, Christine True and John Niklaus.

Follow the travels of Santa as he tours streets and villages of York bringing the Christmas message to local communities.

A thank-you letter and certificate from School in a Bag.

An archive of Press Releases circulated to the media of York - including cuttings and links to original documents and resources.

Yearsley Grove School in Huntington, York support Rotary York Ainsty's Polio Eradication project

York area school pupils aimed for top marks in ingenuity as they swapped their classroom for a design and construction challenge - the RiY Technology Tournament, which was held at the international headquarters of Portakabin, in Huntington, York.

York Ainsty Rotarian Avtar Matharu is seen with another Marie Curie supporter at York central rail station.

Rotarians and volunteers have been out and about assisting with Marie Curie cancer care collections in York.

Six Rotary York Ainsty Rotarians tell the story of why they joined the association.

The heart defibrillator at Copmanthorpe is ready for use, installed courtesy of Rotary York Ainsty.

A photo-gallery featuring some images taken on the 2018 visit to RYA's 'twin' club in Münster, Germany - Münster St Mauritz.

Chechelele - the main attraction at RYA's Charter Night with a Difference - WOZA RYA

WOZA RYA - A Charter Night with a Difference - Rotary York Ainsty Charter Night 2018

Rotary York Ainsty Friends form a vital part of its community structure

Social Activities 2023-24

RYA have an active social program, usually held during the first week of the month in place of the traditional club meeting. This is open to relatives, friends and anyone interested in Rotary.

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