UVU students help assemble feminine hygiene kits for Days for Girls

On Tuesday March 12, 2019, Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF) a student led coalition of clubs at Utah Valley University (UVU) that advocates sustainable mountain development (SMD), had the opportunity to participate in a Days for Girls service project held at UVU in conjunction with UVU’s Women Success Center. Days for Girls is an international non-profit dedicated to providing feminine hygiene kits to women across the world who lack these basic necessities. Participation in this initiative, allowed UIMF to be part of an event that is important for its efforts to advocate for the cause of mountain women, girls and families not only in the State of Utah, but also during the sessions of the Commission on the Status of women in New York. In addition, President of Days for Girls Celeste Mergens contributed to the activities of UIMF both in Utah and at the United Nations: she was a keynote speaker during the fourth International Women of the Mountains Conference, hosted by UIMF in October 7-9, 2015. UIMF members Hazim Alshanbari, Viktoriia Bahri, its adviser, Baktybek Abdrisaev and I contributed to this service project by assisting in preparing feminine hygiene kits for distribution.

(L to R) UIMF Members Hazim Alshanbari and Mark Driggs at UVU’s Days for Girls Service Project

UIMF’s participation illustrated three vital points: 1) UIMF continues to identify ways to support various student and campus organizations; 2) UIMF maintains a staunch commitment to service; and 3) UIMF recognizes and supports a diverse set of initiatives. Seeing UIMF members work with local community members and UVU students who are not involved with UIMF was a reminder of the importance of collaboration within and without UIMF. Effective SMD requires a whole of society approach. It is cross disciplinary by nature, due to the many facets of SMD. UIMF continues to exemplify such an approach to SMD, by contributing to different endeavors across UVU’s campus as was done with the Days for Girls service project. UIMF is determined to continuously engage students across UVU and throughout our local community. Such engagement provides ample opportunity to connect with a diverse set of students, expanding our network and capabilities, through recruitment of students with a wide array of skills, perspectives and backgrounds. In addition to diversity, service must be at the core of any SMD initiative. This is understood by UIMF which is why our members stand ready to support service initiatives as best we can. I am grateful to be a part of a diverse organization committed to service and SMD, and I am confident that UIMF will continue to seek out service opportunities in the coming weeks, months and years.

                  Mark Driggs, Vice President of Outreach, UIMF

2019