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 The Yonkofa Project 

The keep girls in school logo.png
Half Assini Nicu.png
About
YonkofaLogo.jpeg

The Yonkofa Project is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing sustainable healthcare in third world countries. They establish medical clinics in rural Ghana that provide care previously unavailable in those areas. They also have a program called "Keep Girls in School Campaign". The Yonkofa Project has teamed up with Crafting Change to provide menstrual hygiene kits to middle school girls, bandages for the rural clinics and hospitals and items for the Half Assini NICU. 

 what are we crafting? 

Item Requested
Craft Type
Quantity Requested
Quantity Still Needed
Backpacks
Sew
1000
804
Wet Bags
Sew
1250
718
Menstrual Pad Size 8"-9.5" Medium (1 Zorb)
Sew
2000
1752
Menstrual Pad Size 8"-9.5" Heavy (2 Zorb)
Sew
2000
1662
Menstrual Pad Size 10-10.25" Medium (1 Zorb)
Sew
100
84
Menstrual Pad Size 10-10.25" Heavy (2 Zorb)
Sew
100
88
Bandages
Knit/Crochet
100
15

 project must-knows 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) Drawstring Backpacks

Choose high-quality quilting cotton or lightweight canvas for the backpack, avoiding heavy fabrics like decorator fabrics or denim for easier folding and shipping.*

DOs:

- Soccer-related fabrics are popular.
- Novelty prints, tie-dye, superheroes, neons, and bright colors are favored.
- Solid colors and traditional florals are less preferred, as are dark colors.
- Opt for prints that won't show dirt easily, avoiding predominantly pastel or light-colored/white prints.

DON'Ts:

- No camouflage fabric, as it's exclusively used by the military in Ghana.
- Avoid religious and holiday-themed prints (Easter Bunnies, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Santa).
- Exclude fabrics depicting drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or weapons.


2) Reusable Menstrual Pads

  • Each kit we make includes 2 medium and 2 heavy pads.

  • Pads must have 1 or 2 layers of Zorb, a bottom layer of PUL, and Kam Snaps closures.

  • Choose dark, colorful, patterned, or busy fabrics for your topper to help hide stains.

  • Use any template shape in sizes between 8.5" and 10.5" in length are accepted.

  • When shipping your completed pads, please label them by absorbency and length for easier sorting.

  • We offer resources for pad construction, including a video tutorial for first-time makers. Contact us for assistance or to order discount supplies.

.

KAM SNAPS:

  • Each pad must have 2 size 20 Kam Snaps applied on the wing. Refer to our video tutorial for assistance.

  • When applying your own snaps, test each snap multiple times to ensure security, functionality, and that satisfying snap sound.

  • We are happy to apply snaps for you if you have a physical limitation that makes it difficult for you to apply them, permission required for this service.

  • Interested in purchasing Kam Snap supplies? We recommend buying directly from Kam Snaps, a family-owned small business. They offer a great starter set with pliers and snaps! Check that kit out here, or browse the rest of their site! 

3) Wet Bags

  • Wet bags serve two main functions: holding soiled pads while girls are at school and serving as a vessel for cleaning pads at home.

  • Wet bags must be waterproof. We have one approved pattern for these bags, which has proven effective.

  • Watch our video tutorial on properly sealing these bags. For any questions, email Martha for assistance.

4) Sewn Soap Sack

  • The Sewn Soap Sack made from a washcloth is tailored for The Menstrual Hygiene Kit

  • Resembling a washcloth, it offers familiarity the for girls while featuring a twill loop for convenient hanging and drying of soap.

  • Please ensure accurate measurements and avoid using white or light colors as these will be used during menstrual cycles and get stained with blood.

5) Crochet & Knit Bandages- THE BANDAGE PROJECT HAS ENDED AS OF JULY 1, 2025

  • We're crafting cotton bandages for rural clinics/hospitals in Western Ghana.

  • Only 5 approved yarns and one specific pattern are permitted for this project.

  • Participants must be experienced crocheters or knitters capable of checking gauge.

  • While the pattern is simple, consistency and gauge are crucial.

  • Start with 2 skeins of yarn for your first 2 bandages that will be quality checked by our medical advisor before ordering more yarn.

  • Find all necessary information on this information sheet.

UNDERWEAR:

  • Each kit includes 2 pairs of underwear in girls' sizes. 12/14. We need underwear in girls sizes 10/12/14

  • Additional pairs in size 8 and women's size 16 are provided to schools for girls who may need sizes outside of what we offer. 

  • Consider purchasing from our Amazon Wish List  or taking advantage of BOGO sales at Fruit of the Loom, Black Friday deals or check local retailers like Target/Walmart for clearance items.

  • We always need underwear for our kits in Girls size 10 and 12 and 14.

***PLEASE NOTE:

We offer approved supplies at discounted prices for your convenience. You can request Zorb, PUL and KAM SNAPS here.

Your support in adhering to these specifications is crucial. Maintaining the trust our girls place in the kits they receive from Crafting Change is paramount, and you play the key role in upholding it.

Must Knows
Patterns

menstrual pads and wet bags

Menstruals

Wet Bags by Martha

Super simple wet bag designed for Crafting Change by Martha Richmond

Introduction to Sewing Pads for The Keep Girls In School Campaign

Video Tutorial for making pads for The Keep Girls In School Campaign

Updated Crafting Change Menstrual Pad Pattern by Mary Dredge

Modified 8/22 New Easy to cut and sew menstrual pad pattern designed for Crafting Change! Can be made with 1 or 2 zorb!

Menstrual Pads Tips & Tricks Sewing Directions

Our sewing directions full of helpful tips and tricks for making the Luna Wolf pattern!

UPDATED: Menstrual Pad Drying Strap

This updated video tutorial shows how we make the drying strap for our menstrual hygiene kits.

Wet Bags: How to Properly Seal Them

This handy video gives important information

Menstrual Pads Quick Guide

Quick Tips & Tricks for sewing menstrual pads for The Yonkofa Project with Crafting Change!

Easy 9" Menstrual Pad by Angie Rohan

Easy 9" pad designed by Angie Rohan. Can be made with 1 zorb or 2!

Topper Fabrics

A handy guide to topper fabrics for menstrual pads

How to Sew Menstrual Pads for Crafting Change

Video Tutorial including specifics on sewing pads for Crafting Change!

Crafting Change Easy 10" Menstrual Pad

This new pattern for a 10.25" Menstrual Pad designed by Carol Grape of Crafting Change is easy to sew with smoother curves.

Luna Wolf Pattern

The first pattern we've used for pads, comes in 3 lengths. You can get nice 3d printed templates from our friends with this pattern!

How to Add Kam Snaps to Menstrual Pads

Video tutorial on how to apply Kam Snaps with Carol Grape

 drawstring backpacks 

Backpack
Sew

Unlined Drawstring Backpack Project Overview Sheet

Read this first before starting this project! Full of helpful info.

Sew

How To Make Straps

Simple technique to make straps for drawstring backpack

Sew

Unlined Drawstring Backpack

Video Tutorial and Pattern for the unlined drawstring backpack

Sew

Up-cycled T-shirt Drawstring Backpack

How to make a drawstring backpack from a T-shirt!

 sewn soap sack 

Sewn Soap Sack from a Wash Cloth

The Crafting Change Sewn Soap Sack was designed especially for The Yonkofa Project

sewn soap sack
Shipping

 shipping guidelines 

SHIPPING ONLY ON THE 1st of the MONTH unless instructed otherwise to make a deadline! Volunteers ship their donations for The Yonkofa Project to Crafting Change HQ where we assemble them into kits or get the bandages inspected or the baby items ready to go prior to shipping to them to load into cargo containers for the long journey to Ghana.

 

When they arrive here we put menstrual kit items together with donated underwear into kits with instructions. Bandages and Baby items are sorted into waterproof bags for safe shipping. 

 

(Please do not ship these directly to The Yonkofa Project in GA, if you do, they end up having to pay shipping to get them to us. )

There is no rush to get items to us for The Yonkofa Project so we ask that packages are only shipped the 1st of the month. This is an ongoing project and items are always needed. Cargo containers go to Ghana on a rolling basis. 

 

Work until your box is full and ship to us on the first of the month so we can arrange  help for receiving packages, sorting items and putting together kits. 

NEW SHIPPING ADDRESS EFFECTIVE 3/1/25

Crafting Change

1056 Green Acres Road #102-253

Eugene, OR 97408

        

Please read the Crafting Change statement on Give Back Box

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