South tongu: The Celestine Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has donated sanitary pads to two hundred and forty-five female students across three basic schools in the South Tongu Municipality.
According to Ghana News Agency, the beneficiary schools-Real Vision Academy, Evangelical Christian Academy, and Sokpoe D/A Basic School-were carefully selected based on community consultations and identified needs, particularly high female enrollment and socio-economic vulnerability.
Speaking at the donation event, Ms. Adzah Celestine, Chief Executive Officer of the Celestine Foundation, emphasized that the initiative was inspired by the growing concern over school absenteeism and dropout rates among girls due to inadequate access to menstrual hygiene products. 'We were deeply moved by the challenges faced by many young girls in underserved communities, especially during their menstrual cycles,' Ms. Celestine stated. 'Our goal is to support these girls in preserving their dignity, maintaining regular school attendance, and achieving academic success.'
She mentioned that the intervention formed part of the Foundation's broader mission to empower young girls and break the silence and stigma surrounding menstruation. 'We are poised to promoting menstrual health education, enhancing awareness, confidence, and inclusivity among school-aged girls. This donation is just the beginning,' Ms. Celestine added.
She emphasized that the Foundation is committed to sustaining the impact by expanding the initiative to include hygiene education sessions and the potential distribution of reusable sanitary pads. Ms. Adzah urged the support of corporate Ghana to ensure that every female student in the municipality benefits from the initiative. 'We welcome partnerships with government agencies, other NGOs, and philanthropic organizations and individuals to amplify our reach and deepen our impact.'
On behalf of the beneficiary schools, Mr. Mawunyefia Kofi Agbemenya, Headmaster of Real Vision Academy, expressed profound appreciation to the Celestine Foundation. 'This thoughtful gesture will significantly improve the learning experience of our female students. We are grateful to the Foundation for recognizing this critical need and responding with such compassion and purpose.'
The Celestine Foundation's donation marks a meaningful step toward ensuring menstrual equity and promoting educational opportunities for girls in underserved communities.
