‘The Ruby Redemption’: SCA Students Step Up for Local Women
While most students are taking it easy during summer break, two young St Catherine’s Academy students, Kylie Hyde and Auriyah Banks, are spending their vacation helping young women and girls in need with the launch of their initiative, The Ruby Redemption.
Featured on Open Your Eyes hosted by Paul Lopez and Sabreena Daly, the initiative aims to collect feminine hygiene products to create care packages for women’s shelters and children’s homes. The project started after noticing that feminine hygiene products are very expensive and that many young women struggle financially to afford them each month.
The Ruby Redemption is supported by St Catherine’s Academy as part of the school’s efforts to encourage students to pursue meaningful community initiatives. When asked if the topic is taboo, Kylie stated that “people make it taboo because even at our age, we don’t necessarily talk about the problems or what is a healthy period from an unhealthy period”.
They shared that at their all-girls school, classmates support one another during period accidents rather than teasing, creating a supportive environment they hope to extend to their community.
The goal of The Ruby Redemption is to assemble at least 150 care packages from donations, including pads, sanitary liners, feminine wipes, and sprays. Collection boxes can be found in select Belize City stores, including Brodie’s, Publics, and Star Hall, while monetary donations can be made by sending a WhatsApp message directly to 613-5003 or 656-1104.
Collection boxes will remain in stores until August 4th, and Kylie and Auriyah are encouraging everyone out shopping to look for The Ruby Redemption boxes and contribute to helping young women in need.