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The Inaugural Korovian Fellowship Grant
The Inaugural Korovian Fellowship Grant By Helen Tope President, Korovian Club
Congratulations to Jess Carson (Class of 2018)
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The Korovian Club Committee was impressed with the calibre of the applications they received for this award. There are certainly many Korovians demonstrating altruism in the community in a variety of interesting ways. Following the recommendation of the Selection Committee, President, Helen Tope was delighted to announce that the winner of the inaugural Korovian Club Fellowship Grant for 2022 was Jess Carson from the Class of 2018. During the months of April and May this year, Jess and her partner Alex, volunteered in Fiji through a Non-Government Organisation called 'Involvement Volunteers International' (IVI). Through this organisation they conducted health and medical checks within a community referred to as Lovu 'HART' (Housing Assistance and Relief Trust). This community predominantly supports women and children fleeing domestic violence. Through this experience, it came to their attention that there was a lack of basic necessities available for these women and children due to their low socioeconomic status which meant that access to sanitary products was non-existent, as food and rent took priority. Their observations aligned with the definition of period poverty which is: ‘A lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and/or education, which affects many women globally causing physical, mental and emotional challenges.’ On behalf of IVI, Jess and her partner are wanting to start a period poverty initiative that involves sourcing period products in the form of period underwear or sustainable sanitary pads to support 95 women within the HART communities of Fiji. To ensure the effectiveness of this program they hope to start with the one community as a pilot initiative. Their program has a strong environmental message at its core. Further to this, they also hope to provide these women with the means to change the culture ensuring that no woman or child has to feel ashamed of the natural process that is menstruation. Jess has received $5000 from the Korovian Club to fund the pilot program and we look forward to hearing of the progress of this great initiative that directly relates to the welfare of women.
