Summary

This is a proposal to work with the AKAYA Foundation to tackle period poverty in Ghana. The project requires £1,500 and will support 200 girls in Ghana's Dunkwa Abontsin and Shai Osudoku Districts. It will span 8-10 weeks and aim to equip these young women with essential health knowledge and sustainable menstrual products.

The Need for Intervention

Poverty significantly impacts residents in Ghana's Shai Osudoku and Dunkwa Abontsin districts. Girls there face big challenges. They grapple with:

• Period Poverty: The high cost of sanitary products, exacerbated by taxes, forces many girls into precarious situations to afford them, impacting their education and health.

• Health Knowledge Gap: A lack of personal health and hygiene information undermines girls' well-being and confidence.

• Educational Setbacks: Societal pressures and economic hardships disproportionately affect girls, leading to lower school attendance and achievement.

Project Components

The project is structured around three pillars:

• Empowerment Workshops: Tailored sessions will cover menstrual health, sexual rights, and confidence-building, empowering girls to take control of their health and futures.

• Sustainable Menstrual Kits: Providing reusable menstrual products aims to address period poverty sustainably and ensure girls can attend school without interruption.

• Broader Education: The project extends its impact by engaging schools and communities, fostering a supportive environment for girls' health and education.

Implementation Strategy

Effective rollout involves:

• Targeting Beneficiaries: We'll work with local entities to identify girls who will benefit most, ensuring our efforts are focused and impactful.

• Assembling Resources: Ensuring the menstrual kits are appropriate and accessible is key, alongside securing necessary health supplies.

• Building Local Capacity: Training local educators to run workshops will ensure the project's lasting influence in the community.

• Assessing Impact: A thorough evaluation plan will measure the project's success in improving health knowledge and school attendance among participants.

Expected Outcomes

This project will:

• Lessen the challenges of period poverty for 200 girls. This will boost their school attendance and quality of life.

• Boost understanding of health and rights, empowering participants to make informed decisions.

• Encourage regular school attendance by removing health-related barriers.

• Serve as a scalable model for similar interventions across Ghana and beyond.

Conclusion

This proposal represents a vital step towards addressing the intersectional challenges faced by girls in Ghana due to poverty, lack of access to health education, and societal barriers. Through the support of Kwanda and the dedication of the AKAYA Foundation, this project will not only transform the lives of 200 girls but also lay the groundwork for broader change in communities and beyond.