About the Issue
As many as 1 in 3 girls miss school
due to having their period
Good For Girls
Keeping Ghanaian girls in school
~ where they can reach their full potential
Lasting change. Dignity through access, education, and empowerment. Employment for local women.
Good For Girls
Helping to keep Ghanaian girls in school, where they should be.
Good For Girls
What We Do
Free reusable feminine hygiene kits, made by local women
Why It Matters
Learn more about the impact
and outcomes
Meet the Makers
Stories of those who are involved in making a difference
About the Issue
In Sub-Saharan Africa, one in three girls misses school during her menstrual cycle. In rural areas, like the Volta region of Ghana, that number can be even higher.
Absenteeism is due to various factors, including lack of access to affordable sanitary products, inadequate sanitation facilities, and social stigma surrounding menstruation. This issue, often referred to as "period poverty," negatively impacts girls' education and future well-being.
Menstrual absenteeism in rural Ghanaian schools prevents girls from achieving their full potential
Factors Contributing to Absenteeism:
Lack of Access to Sanitary Products: Many girls cannot afford disposable menstrual pads, forcing them to use less effective or unsanitary alternatives, making them ashamed or embarrassed, to the point of avoiding school altogether.
Cultural Beliefs and Stigmas: Traditional beliefs about menstruation being unclean or taboo can lead to girls being isolated or stigmatized during their periods, causing them to miss school.
Lack of Information and Education: Many girls lack proper education and information about menstruation, leading to feelings of shame, embarrassment, and fear. Girls may even avoid school due to fear of being teased or ridiculed by their peers for having their periods.
Poor Menstrual Hygiene Management: Some schools lack proper toilets or handwashing facilities, making it difficult for girls to manage their periods with dignity and hygiene. This can lead to discomfort and increase the risk of infections, further contributing to absenteeism.
Menstrual Symptoms: Menstrual pain and other symptoms, like heavy bleeding, can also contribute to absenteeism, with some girls missing school due to discomfort or shame.
Consequences of School of Absenteeism:
Educational Disruption: Missing school regularly can negatively impact academic performance and lead to girls falling behind in their studies.
Increased Risk of School Dropout: Prolonged absenteeism may contribute to girls dropping out of school altogether, particularly if they face multiple barriers to attending.
Reduced Confidence and Self-Esteem: The challenges associated with managing menstruation can lower girls' self-confidence and create feelings of shame.
Increased Risk of Dropping Out: In some cases, girls may drop out of school altogether due to the cumulative impact of these challenges, thereby limiting their opportunities to learn, develop their skills, and achieve their full potential in the future.
Keeping girls in school
& empowering women to do so
Good For Girls decreases girls' absenteeism through the provision of free reusable feminine hygiene products and education, and utilizes the skills of local women to help make a difference.
Addressing the Issue:
Providing Menstrual Hygiene Products: Good For Girls provides reusable menstrual products for girls at no cost to them.
Raising Awareness and Education: Educational programs are provided to inform the girls about menstruation, and challenge negative beliefs and help reduce stigma and embarrassment.
Promoting Menstrual Health and Hygiene: Implementing programs that promote good menstrual hygiene management can improve girls' comfort and confidence, as well as help to eliminate cultural restrictions and taboos that discourage girls from attending school during menstruation.
Providing Health Education:
A qualified community nurse leads workshops in local schools where the kits are distributed. These sessions cover:
The menstrual cycle and body changes
Hygiene and pad care
Stigma reduction and confidence building
By addressing both physical needs and social stigma, the program ensures girls are informed, prepared, and confident, instead of being embarrassed, during their periods.
Engaging Women Entrepreneurs:
Engaging women from the community to create the kits and purchasing the supplies for them nearby supports the local economy and benefits independent business women. Local seamstresses sew high-quality, washable sanitary pads that are environmentally sustainable and culturally appropriate. Each kit includes:
6 locally-made reusable sanitary pads
Waterproof storage pouch
Instructions for care and use
Soap and a wash cloth
A colourful shoulder kit bag
These kits are distributed to school girls, free of charge, throughout the Volta Region.
Why It Matters
Understanding the Impact & Outcomes
With your support, Good For Girls can help to remove some of the barriers faced by girls in remote rural villages and allow them to focus on getting a good education.
It also serves the wider community by sourcing everything locally and employing women entrepreneurs in the process.
Transformational Change
Barriers Being Addressed:
Lack of Affordable Menstrual Products: The Good For Girls kits are free, reusable, and locally made. Each pad will last up to 3 years, making this a very sustainable solution.
Lack of Education: Nurse-led sessions provide accurate, age-appropriate information and promote healthy outcomes.
Improved Hygiene Management:
With proper reusable products and knowledge, girls can manage their periods safely and comfortably and focus on their education.
Supporting Local Independent Businesswomen:
By employing local seamstresses to create the reusable pads, and sourcing supplies locally, from other independent business women, Good For Girls invests in the local economy, further strengthening communities.
By addressing these issues, Good For Girls can work towards ensuring that all girls have the opportunity to stay in school and reach their full potential. This also benefits the wider community.
Meet the Makers
Local women, making a difference
Women from the community not only produce the kits but have also been trained in sewing and business skills, ensuring that Good For Girls supports both education and women's economic empowerment.
Read the stories of these remarkable Ghanaian women, who are making a difference in their nearby communities in a way that allows girls to stay in school.
Here is the Amazing Team Behind It All
These are the incredible Ghanaian women who help to make it all happen:
Rubby
Rubby, whose name means Precious Stone, lives with her husband, a local taxi driver, and their three children. Her dream is to become a fashion designer in the village, and her work already shows the confidence, skill, and creativity to make that a reality. As the respected team leader of the sewing group, Rubby manages both production and procurement, often travelling across the border to Togo to find the best deals on materials. Quietly effective and deeply intelligent, she leads with care, offering guidance, coaching, and inspiration to the other women in the group.
Precious
Precious Kafui, whose name means Praise Him, grew up in the village and now raises three children with her husband, an okra farmer. Becoming a seamstress was always her dream, and she pursued it with passion, graduating with honours from the Atorkor Training Institute’s first dressmaking class. Today, Precious is known for her flawless technique, creativity, and exceptional attention to detail. Her calm, diligent nature makes her the perfect quality controller for the TAG team, ensuring every piece meets the highest standards.
Freda
Freda Esiawonam’s name means This is what they have given me. A mother of four girls and the wife of a fisherman, Freda earned a scholarship to the Atorkor Training Institute and graduated as the top student in dressmaking theory. Though she once hoped to continue her education, she now channels that drive into her children’s futures. Freda brings warmth, strength, and consistency to her sewing, and her compassionate presence makes her the heart of the team, a caregiver whose joy and dedication lift everyone around her.
Vero
Vero, meaning Humble, comes from a large fishing family and is one of twelve siblings. A skilled seamstress and a talented soccer player, Vero brings both precision and playfulness to everything she does. Her quiet determination, natural intelligence, and strong work ethic make her a standout in the workshop. She’s also the group’s comic relief, lightening the mood with her humour and charm while contributing high-quality, careful craftsmanship every day.
Peace
Peace Enyonam’s name means It is good for me, and her spirit reflects that affirmation. As the youngest member of the team, Peace is a new single mother who also supports her own mother. Her strong sense of independence, love of vibrant colours, and intuitive eye for design make her work both bold and beautiful. With a free spirit and unique style, Peace adds a creative spark to the group while contributing meaningfully to the shared mission.
Pat
Patience, known fondly as Pat, is a devoted mother of four teenage girls and the wife of a long-distance taxi driver. Deeply engaged in her church and community, Pat leads with quiet wisdom, serving on committees and women’s discussion groups. Her nurturing presence and thoughtful guidance have made her a mentor to many. With grace and steadiness, Pat contributes a calming, wise energy that strengthens the entire team.
Help Drive Change
There are lots of ways to get involved and show your support.
You Can Help Keep Girls in School
Donate: Just $25 provides a full kit and educational support for one girl. More donations support more girls! Click
here to contact us about making a donation by e-transfer.Volunteer: Help spread the word about Good For Girls. Educate others or assist with fundraising. Challenge others to provide kits and support girls.
Partner: We're always looking for foundations, NGOs, schools, businesses and individuals who believe in supporting equitable education and the empowerment of women & girls within their communities.
Join our mailing list:
Send us your contact details , and we will add you to our mailing list and keep you informed on how things are developing.
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you.
Email: goodforgirlsghana@gmail.com Phone/WhatsApp: (613) 503-2265
Help us to support girls and women throughout the Volta Region, Ghana
Lasting change. Dignity through access, education, and empowerment. Employment for local women.