International Trends & Services
The International Trends and Services facet provides services and delivers transformational programs to people of African ancestry globally so that they may have a better quality of life. Programs are designed and developed to service the educational, health, and cultural needs of our global community.
Locally, the mission of the International Trends and Services facet is to educate, encourage, and empower girls and women to know their self-worth, extending our reach across geographical boundaries. In 2019-2020, The Bold City (FL) Chapter’s signature program was Days for Girls, establishing a partnership with Sulzbacher Village, a place that provides comprehensive services and housing to women, children and men transitioning from homelessness into the workforce and/or school. The ladies at the Sulzbacher Village joined The Bold City Chapter once a month fully engaged and ready to work on creating sustainable and reusable menstrual health hygiene kits, helping to reach our 2020 goal. The Bold City (FL) Chapter, Sulzbacher Village, and our supporting partners have come together to keep girls in Dowa, Malawi in school by providing these kits - creating a more dignified, humane and equitable world for girls and women around the world through advocacy, reproductive health awareness, education, and sustainable feminine hygiene-because no girl should go without.
The chapter designed the program for the Sulzbacher Village to be twofold: 1) To create a sisterhood of collaboration and teamwork and 2) To empower the participants with the opportunity to bless poverty-stricken ladies internationally with menstrual kits. This was also a great way to transfer life skills, like sewing and provide a way for the ladies to gain community service hours and give back. Service days were every 2nd Thursday from 5:30pm - 7:30pm during the months of September through April. The following community partners also supported the initiative: Hopewell, Tallahassee Sewing Guild, Orange Park Women’s Club, and Faith United Methodist Church.
The International Trends and Services facet also supported other initiatives during the 2019-2020 program year including the Bahamas Hurricane Relief, the Southern Area Links Bahamas Safe House Send A Hug initiative, the National Toilets for Haiti initiative, and the UF Health COVID-19 Volunteer Services Office making certified N95 masks (made over 1000 FDA approved N95 certified masks). The chapter also set up an informational booth at the AARP Empowering Women seminar to feature our Days for Girls initiative to expand our partnerships and reach.
Key 2019-2020 Programs
Date(s):
September 12, 2019 – Days for Girls Informational Session
October 10, 2019 – Days for Girls Workshop
November 14, 2019 - Days for Girls Workshop
January 9, 2020- Days for Girls Workshop
February 13, 2020 - Days for Girls Workshop
March 12, 2020 - Days for Girls Workshop
The month of April 2020 - COVID-19 Pandemic Project: Virtual/Focus on sewing over 1000 FDA approved N95 certified masks for UF Health Jax
Event: Days for Girls Workshops
Impact:
- The 2019 – 2020 program year target for the Days for Girls initiative was 400 kits, double from last year. The chapter overachieved the target finishing at 129%, completed 515 kits!
- 40 ladies from Sulzbacher Village participated in the Days for Girls workshops, with over 50% continuing through the entire program.
- Four of the participants received "Master Sewers" recognition for their contribution and performance.
- The chapter received outstanding evaluations of the program with a few personal testimonies on the impact.
- "This program made me feel as though I was a part of a women’s movement for good. I felt as though we all looked out for each other and encouraged each other to do our best for a worthy cause."
- "I looked forward to these workshops every month. No matter how tired I was, I always made sure I would be there. I needed this."
- "I never felt like I could be a part of something like this. I hope you continue this program.
