Hi!

It's my birthday today, on July 17th, and I'm turning 28. I've had a lot of privileges in my life, all of them undeserved and most of them a circumstance of being born white, male and American. So, in honour of my 28th year, I want to use my birthday occasion to shed light on someone doing much more important and difficult work than I do during my day to day job.

For the past few weeks, I've been working on a campaign to raise funds to support the work of Juliana Katini, an incredible woman who is working tirelessly to provide sanitary pads and training kits to women and girls in rural Kenya. The work she does helps women and girls attend school, stay in work, avoid social stigma and most importantly realise their own potential.

Due to some recent funding cuts from the Trump Administration and the global gag rule, the supply of sanitary products in countries across the world, include Kenya, is dangerously low. Women like Juliana are stepping up to the challenge and filling the gap. Juliana has plans to build a distribution production hub to create jobs, produce pads and help ensure a steady and reliable supply. And she needs your support.

The problems we face require systemic change. We need to work together, think bigger and articulate a positive vision for the future. We need millions of people like Juliana. But today and I'm asking that you take five minutes and support her and her work. 

Thank you.

- Gabriel, now 28 years old