Women in Training Celebrates Seven Years of Empowering Girls and Advocating to End Period Poverty
- Adeyela Bennett
- Jul 13
- 2 min read
Women in Training, Inc. was born out of a birthday wish by 12-year-old twins, Breanna and Brooke Bennett, to make the world a better place for all girls. Instead of asking for birthday gifts in July 2019, the sisters asked their parents and friends from around the globe to donate funds for them to create WITKITS of menstrual, dental and hygiene supplies for girls in a nearby neighborhood.
Seven years later, Breanna and Brooke are entering their sophomore year in university, while a dedicated Board of Directors and volunteers carry on the WIT mission.
To date, WIT volunteers have:
Distributed more than 40,000 WITKITS of menstrual, dental and hygiene supplies to families in need in Alabama; Washington, DC; Maryland; Pennsylvania; New Orleans; and Eleuthera, The Bahamas
Trained more than 1,000 girls in the Sacred Menstrual Hygiene workshop
Published more than 50,000 copies of the "WIT Guide to Menstrual Hygiene"
Mentored more than 100 middle and high school girls and young women in the WIT Leadership Development Academy
Raised more than $2 million to help End Poverty. PERIOD!
"By far, our most impactful service was initiating and advocating for HB 50, Alabama's "Period Poverty Bill" sponsored by Representative Rolanda Hollis," said Brooke. "The state funds $400,000 annually for the Alabama Department of Education to provide period products for more than 56,000 girls in Title I schools."
CNN Heroes recognized Breanna and Brooke as CNN Heroes Young Wonders 2024 in recognition of their advocacy efforts with Alabama State Rep. Rolanda Hollis, who has served as the WIT Chairwoman for the past three years.
Click the photo below to watch the CNN Heroes segment featuring WIT.
"From my perspective, teaching young girls about how sacred their menstruation is counts high on our list of. achievements," said Breanna. "The day we all love and understand our bodies is the day women will truly recognize their wealth and power!"
Below is a delightful segment that Standing the Gap: The Splintering of American Healthcare produced about the WIT Leadership Development Academy's menstrual education component.
Women in Training, Inc. hosts three major community events annually, as follows:
WIT Mother-Daughter Brunch to celebrate International Women's Day in March:
WIT 5K:
International Day of the Girl Child Festival:
To support Women in Training, Inc.'s programming, please click the DONATE button below:
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