Information for Female Volunteers KENYA & NEPAL Clothing It is very important when traveling in East Africa and Nepal to be aware of how you dress. The areas you will be traveling to can often be very conservative and in order to remain respectful of these places and the people we will be visiting, we ask you to dress considerately. Practically, then, this means:
Making sure your shoulders, knees, cleavage and midriff are covered. Unfortunately, leggings are often see-through so please do not wear these as trousers. They can also be very uncomfortable in the heat so are not a great item to pack. Vest tops are not appropriate, as we ask that your shoulders be covered at all times. Short-sleeved t-shirts are fine, and down to the elbow are even better!
Please ensure that your shorts cover your knees, at least. A good option is a pair of threequarter-length trousers. They are easy enough to get hold of and do not need to be expensive. Long skirts/dresses are also a nice idea when you are not doing the building project or trekking. These don’t have to be your best outfits, again just something cheap will make sure that you are dressed respectfully and will also help you to keep cool.
Loose, baggy clothing is best as this also keeps you cool when working hard on the project if the weather is warm or running around with the kids all day!
Sports bras can also be handy for long journeys on sometimes very bumpy roads or when trekking for several hours a day!
Contraception and Periods
The Pill - Taking the contraceptive pill at the same time as malaria tablets can sometimes result in light spotting and breakthrough bleeding. This is nothing to be alarmed about, it can sometimes be quite common, but please talk with your GP before your trip to ensure that the specific pill and malaria tablet combination that you are taking will not influence the effectiveness of the other. Generally this should not be a concern, but it is always good to check.
Sanitary Waste – For certain parts of your trip you will be using long-drop toilets (a hole dug into the ground with a concrete platform) so you can simply dispose of your waste here; just throw it down! Where you get the opportunity to use a Western toilet, there should be sanitary bins provided, to be used just as at home.
W: www.movingmountainstrust.org
PO Box 14, Portstewart, Northern Ireland, BT55 7WS T: 028 708 31258
Recognised as a charity by HRMC under reference XR62512
E: mmuk@movingmountainstrust.org
Information for Female Volunteers KENYA & NEPAL
Hygiene – You will be able to wash as often as you like when in Kenya and Nepal (with the exception of the climb of Mount Kenya, and albeit using a bucket a lot of the time!) so even when on your period you will be able to freshen up. Wet-wipes are also a handy thing to take for the trip. They’re great to have generally, but especially if your period happens to fall when you are on the mountain or during a long day trekking. You will also be able to wash clothes as often as you need to. In Kenya, we often invite local women into the camp to do your washing for a small fee, but they will not wash underwear so this will be your responsibility. You can wash and dry clothes privately if you experience some breakthrough bleeding. Just ask your female leader where is best to do this.
Sanitary Products - Tampons and sanitary towels are available if you run out although they may not always be very close to hand. It’s a good idea to take the amount which you expect to use during your trip but we will be able to get hold of some for you if needs be. Sanitary towels are more readily available than tampons, so may be provided if you run out and it’s an emergency!
Periods on the Mountain or whilst trekking – There are toilets at each of the overnight camps on the mountain, but not as you are walking throughout the day. For the toilets at the camps, follow the instructions for Sanitary Waste above, depending on whether you are using a longdrop or a Western toilet. Toilets during the walk consist of a group of bushes with your friends standing guard! If you need to change during this time, you can carry little sanitary waste bags and then get rid of them at the next toilet.
Mooncup – The mooncup is another great sanitary product when used in the UK however in Kenya or Nepal it sometimes becomes more difficult. Running water may not always be located at the site of the toilet, instead you may have to walk a little to get there, making cleaning the mooncup more difficult. To discuss periods or sanitary products in front of men can also be considered highly inappropriate in these countries and can make people uncomfortable and the same would go for washing your mooncup in public. Therefore if this is your preferred sanitary product, then please be discreet when washing it and make an extra effort to make sure it is thoroughly clean to avoid any risk of infection.
Please email me at rachael@movingmountainstrust.org if you have any other questions about female personal hygiene or how to dress appropriately when you are abroad.
W: www.movingmountainstrust.org
PO Box 14, Portstewart, Northern Ireland, BT55 7WS T: 028 708 31258
Recognised as a charity by HRMC under reference XR62512
E: mmuk@movingmountainstrust.org