Sanitary Pads for 200 School Girls at Tinkong

Executive Summary

Although no additional external funding was secured during the reporting period, United Way Ghana continued to prioritize the sustainability of the gains achieved in Tinkong through the strategic utilization of existing resources, strengthened school-based support mechanisms, and community engagement. The focus remained on maintaining continuity and maximizing the effectiveness of ongoing interventions, particularly the Girls’ Closet initiative, peer-led education, and attendance monitoring. These efforts were aimed at sustaining support for schoolgirls, reinforcing local ownership, and safeguarding the progress achieved despite funding constraints.

Key Progress and  Impact Highlights

1. Continued Resource Distribution and Inventory Optimization

Utilizing the remaining stock from our previous procurement cycle, we successfully executed a controlled replenishment cycle for our 45 direct beneficiaries.

• Distribution Strategy: Each beneficiary received a carefully managed two-month supply of sanitary pads to bridge the gap while local school committees began exploring sustainable, low-cost community solutions.
• Direct Coverage: 100% of the core 45 beneficiaries remained fully supported with zero disruption in their supply during academic months.

2. Maintenance and Ownership of the Girls’ Closet Initiative

The Girls’ Closet model continues to serve as an indispensable, stigma-free safety net across our six partner schools.

• Utilization: Total recorded visits to the Girls’ Closets across all six schools reached 132 visits (an increase from 108 in the previous cycle).
• Supply Management: Head teachers and designated female patron teachers have effectively managed emergency stock, prioritizing girls who experience unexpected cycles during school hours.
• School Ownership: Teachers have taken greater ownership of these spaces, organizing basic self-care supplies and offering guidance to students beyond scheduled workshop hours.

3. Peer-Led Refresher Sessions and Community Engagement

Without the budget for expanded external workshops, we shifted toward a Peer Refresher and Mentorship Model to sustain menstrual health education.

• Student Champions: 12 senior beneficiaries were trained as "Hygiene Champions" to lead informal peer discussions during extra-curricular hours.
• Reach: These student-led refresher discussions reached an estimated 180 girls across the partner schools, reinforcing topics on reproductive health, personal hygiene, and self-confidence.
• Survey Insights: Follow-up spot checks indicate that 95% of previous workshop participants retain key knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene management and feel confident managing their periods at school.

Impact Analysis & Attendance Tracking

Teacher-led attendance monitoring remains our primary tool for evaluating academic retention and project performance.

The provided tracking metrics highlight the sustained, long-term impact of the menstrual hygiene program across four critical areas: absenteeism reduction, facility utilization, and community education reach.

Absenteeism Reduction

At project inception, menstrual-related absenteeism stood at an estimated 32%. Through consistent access to sanitary products and hygiene education, this figure dropped significantly to 11% in Report 2 and 8% in Report 3. In the current phase (Report 4), absenteeism has further decreased to 6.5%. Overall, this represents a 79.7% reduction in period-related school absences, demonstrating that removing basic health barriers directly supports continuous learning and academic retention for schoolgirls in Tinkong.

Girls' Closet Utilization

The Girls' Closet initiative established as a safe, private space for students to access emergency supplies has seen continuous engagement. After recording 86 total visits in Report 2 and expanding to 108 visits by Report 3, the initiative reached 132 total visits in Report 4. This steady increase reflects growing trust and comfort among students, ensuring that emergency needs are met discreetly without causing girls to leave school grounds.

Educational Outreach and Continuity

The program's educational component reached a cumulative total of 250 girls by Report 3, expanding beyond the core beneficiaries to include peers across six partner schools. In Report 4, while the overall cumulative reach remained at 250 girls due to no new funding, 180 girls participated in refreshed, ongoing review sessions. This focus on periodic reinforcement helps dismantle long-standing stigmas, solidifying self-care practices and maintaining high confidence levels managing menstrual health.

Key Takeaway:

Even without new funding injections, menstrual-related absenteeism dropped further to 6.5%. This demonstrates that when access to hygiene supplies is paired with supportive infrastructure (Girls' Closets) and reduced social stigma, girls consistently prioritize remaining in school.

Thank You

Your past generosity continues to yield real, daily dividends for the girls of Tinkong. Every percentage drop in absenteeism represents a girl who stayed in the classroom, kept up with her studies, and protected her future. Thank you for standing with United Way Ghana in our mission to eradicate period poverty and unlock educational opportunity.