Menstruation Should Never Be a Barrier to Education
For many school-aged girls in rural Ghana, something as natural as menstruation becomes a monthly obstacle—one that threatens not only their dignity but their right to education.
At the Smile Agenda Foundation (SAF), we believe that every girl deserves to stay in school every day of the month.
Yet, across the communities we serve through our school outreach programs, we encounter a recurring challenge: the silence, stigma, and shame surrounding menstruation. These challenges are deeply rooted in cultural taboos, inadequate education, and lack of access to basic menstrual hygiene products. The result? Far too many girls are forced to miss school during their cycle. Over time, this leads to chronic absenteeism and, in too many cases, dropping out altogether.
The Hidden Cost of Period Poverty
Research and field experience both point to a painful truth: period poverty is not just about the affordability of sanitary products—it’s also about the lack of open dialogue. In many rural areas, menstruation is shrouded in mystery and misinformation. Girls grow up feeling ashamed of their own bodies, with no safe space to learn how to manage their periods with confidence.
Even when girls do understand their cycles, they often lack the means to manage them hygienically. Reusable cloths, newspaper, or staying home become their only options.
No girl should ever have to choose between her education and her period.
Launching the Menstrual Hygiene Advocacy Project
In response to this urgent need, SAF is proud to launch its new Menstrual Hygiene Advocacy Project under our larger initiative, Project Smiles of Hope.
Through this project, we are:
- Educating young girls (and boys!) in schools about menstrual health and hygiene.
- Distributing free sanitary pads to girls in need.
- Fostering open conversations within schools and communities to dismantle stigma and normalize menstruation.
- Empowering peer ambassadors to champion menstrual equity in their schools.
Our goal is simple yet powerful: to keep girls in school and create a culture where menstruation is met with support, not shame.
Let’s Create Change—Together!
The time to act is now. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, donor, health worker, or student, your voice matters. Together, we can break the silence, provide dignity, and ensure that no girl’s education is disrupted because of her period.
Join us in restoring confidence, creating safe spaces, and keeping our girls in class—all month long.
📣 Let’s get involved today!
Because a period should never pause a girl’s potential.
