_Community Stories: Kymbal Dunne supports The Cova Project
I want to thank Knight Frank for allowing me two days off as part of volunteer leave to work for The Cova Project. Last week instead of a suit and tie and being at a desk, I wore shorts and a Cova Project t-shirt and drove a truck.
My role was to support the organisers of The Cova Project’s main annual fundraiser, which included transporting plants from a palm nursery to the event venue to create a jungle scene, loading them up to return them and returning the truck.
I was just one of many people who gave their time for free, which is not exactly true and that’s why I feel the need to share the story as it was Knight Frank who gave me paid time off, for which I am grateful and so too are The Cova Project team.
The Cova Project is an Australian charity established to provide menstrual cups and health education to girls and women across five African countries including South Africa, Malawi and Liberia. The cup is made from silicone and can last for up to 10 years so it’s a sustainable solution. These women are from developing communities in low income countries and cannot afford any of the sanitary solutions available, so they experience what is called ‘period poverty’.
Through the embarrassment of their period and not having access to pads, tampons or cups they are absent up to 50 days a year from school or work. Apart from obvious loss of dignity, they spend less time being educated or earning wages than men.
As a man I have taken this for granted, and as a father of two daughters I cannot be so disengaged. The Cova Project is a solution and to many women, an essential helping hand.
I was one of many people who were cleverly coordinated to give their time, expertise, provided drinks, food, a venue, hosting services and most of all their support to put on a show and raise awareness and money. In the end I made a donation too, but by then I’d watched a 52 minute documentary. I was fully engaged as part of a community of givers and helpers so it wasn’t much of a stretch to put my hand in my pocket for a cause I want to be involved in.
What’s even better is that I am a man with a feminist identity which rather suits me. If being a reliable ally and a part of the solution is important to you, then jump on board with me and let’s go open this project up to all women experiencing period poverty in the world.
"The Cova Project was very lucky to have the pleasure of Kymbal Dunne’s time over the last few days, courtesy of Knight Frank’s volunteer leave. Volunteer leave is still a relatively new concept, but for small charities in need of manpower or particular skills, it’s an enormous opportunity.
Kymbal was put to work, helping us set up and host our major fundraising event and with his support, we exceeded our fundraising goal. Giving back to the community in this way is wonderful and, in our case, having a distinguished male giving his time to support a menstrual health charity was unique and moving.
We hope to continue to have the support of organisations like Knight Frank, as we need all the help we can get to combat the global issue of period poverty. Thank you to Kymbal and Knight Frank for this opportunity!"
My clients and colleagues were all interested and overwhelmingly supportive to my time off work. I think they were impressed by Knight Frank’s encouragement as well - and good on the company for its generosity. It takes a lot of people to make a community but how good do you feel being part of something worthwhile?