Sanitary Pads for 200 School Girls at Tinkong

Menstrual hygiene may seem like a normal part of life for many girls, but for some girls in Tinkong, it has been a major barrier to education. Through United Way Ghana’s participation in the GlobalGiving Fundraising Program, this reality is beginning to change, thanks to you, our generous donor. We are proud to report that with your support, 41 schoolgirls in Tinkong have received access to sanitary pads, helping them stay in school during their menstrual periods. Of these, 20 girls are receiving a year’s supply, while 21 girls are receiving supplies for six months.

Although we reached 15.25% of our fundraising goal, your impact has been deeply transformational. One of our beneficiaries, Ama (not her real name), a 14-year-old student, shared how life-changing this support has been. She said: “Sometimes when my classmates talk about the comfort they feel using a sanitary pad, I could only imagine it. I have always used pieces of cloth. Using a pad for the first time is something I do not take for granted. Now I can join the conversation and truly understand the comfort it brings.”

Beyond the distribution of sanitary pads, we launched menstrual hygiene education sessions and introduced the Girls' Closet initiative, a safe and private space in schools where girls can access pads and essential self-care materials throughout the school year. Teachers are now tracking school attendance to assess the academic impact of the project. Early results are promising: beneficiaries are showing a marked reduction in absenteeism during their menstrual periods.

Together, we took a bold step to transform the menstrual hygiene experience for these girls, and it is only the beginning.  Thank you for choosing to partner with United Way Ghana to improve access to quality education and help end period poverty.