WHEN Carmila woman Rensina Van den Heuvel travels, she wants to do more than just see the sights.

While others might just read the Lonely Planet books on how to spend a day, when visiting another country she generally looks for a project to help the women of the world.

On December 2, she will travel to Morocco to begin her seven-month tour of Africa.

Ms Van den Heuvel and her partner will travel the west coast, travelling and providing assistance to women.

When she leaves she will take 400 sanitary pads and about 300 toolkits with templates and utensils to help show the women how to make the products.

While researching issues in the region, she saw how big an impact the lack of sanitary pads had in Africa.

"Many young women can't go to school for a week out of that month because they just don't have anything,” she said.

"I've watched quite a few documentaries since I first formulated the idea to do this project and the more I watch, the more I realise how important it is and what a huge difference it's going to make.”

Last month, she posted on social media about her project and the interest has since "exploded”.

Women from all over the country have sent supplies, including a group of women from NSW who sent a huge box of flannelette and scissors to assist.

Mrs Van den Heuvel said there had been an overwhelming amount of support from women throughout the region also, who have offered to raise money and provide materials.

Prior to this project, she has also worked with other women on different projects in developing countries.

Mrs Van den Heuvel said she just has a strong passion to work with women and help.

"It's come from about just over 30 years ago, where I was in a really difficult spot in my life,” she said.

"A few women in this particular group put their hand out and helped pull me up. That's never left me. I love helping people to feel empowered, and women - that's just my passion.

"I'm humbled that I am able to actually do this travelling and be the person that going to be one on one with these women and have that contact with them.”

Want to help? There will be a working bee on Sunday October 15 at the Mackay Women's Centre from 9am - 4pm. Buttons and needles are needed.