Tanith: You have travelled the world volunteering, building schools and supporting communities that really need help. Which of your campaigns touched you the most and why?
Dimathalia: Every country I've been to and done a project or campaign. In Ecuador, we had to build a toilet in the Amazon rainforest and I thought that people didn't live there. They do, there’s a kitchen, a community and I didn't know about that. For them to see the work we were doing and how happy they were working with us that's the most incredible thing. That touched me. In South Korea I worked with orphans and these kids can't be in foster homes because there's this stigma about kids being adopted because they don't have the same blood as the parents. That was shocking to me. In India I was working in the slums and It's so different to how you see it in your textbooks. I cried so much, that was one of the most shocking trips for me because I didn't know what I was expecting. Seeing it in real life. I couldn’t believe that people actually lived like this in different countries. In Lebanon the kids were so clever and can all speak English. Kenya really touches me, we have kids turn up the office and say thank you so much for the food, or we get their exam results, and we know that we’ve helped the kids pass those exams because of that bit of food. Our food programme is amazing, I feel very grateful that I get to do this and every place that I've been touches me in different ways.
Tanith: I know you have other projects in the works including a project called ‘It’s Normal’ tackling period poverty, tell us about the project and other plans you have for the future?
Dimathalia: The project is a collaboration between TDG and the Kichwa community. I want the community to be involved as much as possible. Creating sanitary products is not an easy task, but it is one of the most challenging topics in Africa. Specifically in Kenya menstruation is linked to cultural taboos, and there's a stigma that comes with it. With this misinformation spreading for many generations. We want to make a change in the community, and supporting health education and lobbying for girls is my number one priority. We advocate for girls to stay in school and complete their education. So we're trying to create is an extended space for these girls, step up production, provide pad machines and teaching the women. Giving them an education so that they can create those period pads, so they have availability of period pants, and they don't have to use dirty cloths, feathers or newspaper and they will have a wash space. it's a very embarrassing experience from what the girls have told us, so this is our plan for now, this is how we're trying to bring awareness to the community and bring the people together so they know how important this issue is for girls. We want to educate the boys so they can help their sisters and mothers. So that's where we're at with. ∎
Connect with Dimathalia via email: dimarizkiinfo@gmail.com
Follow on Instagram: @teamdimaglobal & @omgsumandak
TANITH HARDING
Director of International Development, The Legacy Project, RoundTable Global www.awarenessties.us/tanith-harding Tanith is leading change management through commitment to the RoundTable Global Three Global Goals of: Educational Reform, Environmental Rejuvenation & Empowerment for All. She delivers innovative and transformational leadership and development programmes in over 30 different countries and is also lead on the international development of philanthropic programmes and projects. This includes working with a growing team of extraordinary Global Change Ambassadors and putting together the Global Youth Awards which celebrate the amazing things our young people are doing to change the world.
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