Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity Grant Helps Girls Abroad with Menstrual Care

Alpha Omicron Pi is proud to share an update regarding the MoonCatcher Project (MCP), the Fraternity’s 2025 Circle of Sisterhood grant recipient.

This $10,000 grant supports nine sewing guilds across Africa in Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda that make and distribute free menstrual cycle kits to optimize school-aged girls’ lives by removing barriers related to menstruation and helping them manage their periods with dignity and confidence without discontinuing their education. Two thousand MoonCatcher Kits were manufactured in total; not only helping the recipients of the kits continue attending school during their monthly cycles, but also providing 40 local female tailors with a means to earn an income to support their families.

“Educating a girl doesn’t just change her future — it transforms families, communities, and entire nations,” shared Carole Jurenko Jones, Alpha Delta (U of Alabama), and Circle of Sisterhood supporter. “When she learns, she leads. When she leads, the world follows. Supporting organizations like Circle of Sisterhood helps break down barriers to education for girls around the world. every voice, every action, every dollar counts.”

The MoonCatcher Kits include items necessary for women and girls to endure a safe, healthy menstral cycle, including:

• A carrier with a waterproof liner, three removable, washable fleece pads, and waist tie
• A drawstring bag to hold the carrier, extra pads, and waterproof bag
• A waterproof bag for used pads until washing
• Care instructions and a calendar for girls to track their cycles

“How wonderful that [Alpha Omicron Pi] is helping provide support to so many other girls and young women,” shared Sue Kraft Fussell, the Grants Team Lead at the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation. “It’s amazing to see the impact they are making as an organization. It certainly shows that it doesn’t take a large budget or staff to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people!”

The MCP recently released its 2025 interim report containing updates on the important work being done on the ground in Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya. The full report can be viewed here.

In this report, the MCP shared the story of one participant, Claire, a 20-year-old young woman studying fashion and design who has used a MoonCatcher Kit since she was 15. She had the opportunity to visit a Moon Catcher Sewing Cooperative in Wakiso two years ago where she learned to sew one of the Kits, and now she works there. Claire noted that opportunity provides for her financially, which is of importance because many girls and women in the area enter into relationships with men in order to get money for these basic hygienic products. And often, that results in these girls and women becoming young mothers and quitting school. These kits don’t just provide monthly support to girls and women, but they have a larger impact on their futures. 

AOII is proud to partner with Circle of Sisterhood to help make programs like their MoonCatcher Kits possible. Over the years, Circle of Sisterhood has united the sorority community to make a difference in the world around us. Fourteen members of AOII have participated in seven cultural immersion treks to break ground on school builds in five countries, and two AOII members currently serve as Circle of Sisterhood volunteers. This partnership is only the beginning of the efforts between Alpha Omicron Pi and Circle of Sisterhood to make a lasting impact on the lives of girls and women across the globe.

“I choose to support the Circle of Sisterhood because for as long as I can remember, I’ve had the privilege of strong female role models in my life who guided me and taught me, mentored me and supported me, and challenged me to live my full potential,” shared Kaya Miller, Gamma Theta (U of South Florida), AOII’s Executive Director. “I can’t imagine how different my life would be without encouragement and love from the fearless women and strong men in my family, my ambitious and closest girlfriends, and my amazing female coworkers. I want every girl and woman to have the same sense of self worth that has been nurtured in me so that she can live to her highest potential. Circle of Sisterhood is a chance to pay my privilege forward.”

Visit Circle of Sisterhood’s website and the MoonCatcher Project’s website to learn more.