In the dusty corridors of Gowrie-Tingre D/A Junior High School in Bongo, a silent revolution is underway—one that has restored dignity, improved school attendance, and dismantled deep-seated stigma surrounding menstruation.
Until recently, schoolgirls in this border district of Ghana’s Upper East Region faced monthly nightmares—missing classes, enduring shame, and risking infections—because they had no access to proper sanitary pads. Many relied on toilet paper during their periods, a practice that led to public embarrassment and absenteeism.
One poignant moment captured this reality: after school one afternoon in July 2024, a girl stayed behind long after her peers left, wiping a bloodstained chair with her schoolbag—unaware her teachers were quietly observing from a distance. Her act of silence spoke volumes of the discomfort and shame menstruating girls endured daily.
But change came, thanks to a timely intervention by WaterAid Ghana under the SHARE project—an initiative aimed at promoting Sexual Health and Reproductive Education among young people.
Launched in 2022 and funded by Global Affairs Canada, the SHARE project is implemented by a consortium including WaterAid, Right To Play, FAWE, and FHI 360 Ghana.
In Bongo, WaterAid targeted 12 public basic schools—including Gowrie-Tingre, Tarongo, Dua, Kunkua, and St. Luke R/C JHS—rolling out sensitisation workshops, training teachers, and forming school health clubs. Most critically, the organisation distributed free reusable cloth sanitary pads to hundreds of girls, effectively ending their reliance on unsafe substitutes.
The SHARE project didn’t stop there. Both boys and girls were trained on how to make the reusable pads, breaking the taboo and fostering mutual respect. “Before this intervention, girls often skipped school or even turned to men for money to buy pads,” said Rebecca Akadoore, a teacher and school health coordinator at Gowrie-Tingre JHS. “Now, they attend classes confidently—even during their periods.”
Twelve-year-old Louisa Akanobre shared her relief: “Before, boys used to laugh at us. Now they understand it’s a natural thing.” One of those boys, Prosper Ayinbotima, admitted: “We used to mock them. But not anymore—we help them sew pads and we see menstruation differently.”
The project’s impact is visible. According to Evelyn Yadeh, Bongo District’s School Health Education Programme (SHEP) Coordinator, the dropout rate among girls has significantly declined. “Before, some girls stayed home for up to a week each month. Now, they come to school and even help educate others.”
Still, challenges remain. Many schools lack changing rooms, and menstruating girls must share doorless washrooms with boys—an issue WaterAid and its partners say they are working to resolve.
For now, though, the girls of Bongo are stepping boldly into their futures—better informed, better prepared, and no longer ashamed. Thanks to WaterAid’s intervention, menstruation is no longer a reason to stay home—it’s just another part of a normal school day.
