The Power of Days: A Story of Resilience, Dignity, and the Fight for Women's Equity

Celeste Mergens created The Power of Days to address the issue of menstruation taboos and lack of access to menstrual supplies, which led to girls missing school and work. The organization has since reached over 2.6 million women and girls in 145 countries, providing education and resources to break the stigma and increase access to menstrual supplies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 03 October 2023
Publisher: BenBella Books

Imagine the frustration of missing school or work every month due to a lack of proper menstrual supplies. How many days per year would you be deprived of education and wages simply because you got your period? What if no one ever taught you about menstruation, or worse, if menstrual taboos and myths made you feel ashamed of your body?

In 2008, Celeste Mergens was working with an overcrowded orphanage on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya, when she discovered that menstruating girls sat on cardboard in their rooms for several days each month. This revelation sparked a simple yet powerful idea: to combine a washable, long-lasting pad with taboo-breaking education. This combination became a catalyst for an unlikely global movement for equity.

Written in short, evocative chapters, The Power of Days tells the story of Mergens's quest to rally a global response to elevate menstrual health, increase universal access to menstrual supplies, shatter stigma through education, and advocate for global policy change.

Raised in poverty by a mentally ill parent, Mergens learned early on that building the life she wanted would require equal parts determination and humility. These traits led her to create the kinds of inclusive conversations and solutions that she is renowned for around the globe.

The challenges Mergens faced and the lessons she learned, both personally and professionally, and the triumphs and resourcefulness of leaders across the globe are illuminating to anyone who wishes to make a difference and create a more equitable world.

Today, Days for Girls reaches more than 2.6 million women and girls in 145 countries. The organization's impact continues to grow, proving that small changes can create significant shifts. This journey to overcome one of the world's most prevalent taboos is proof that no divide is impossible to bridge.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781637743744