Strong, bright, and determined, these young ladies are Ghana’s future. They value education and work hard in school. Yet many will miss a week of school each month; they will fall behind, become discouraged, and possibly give up. The girls call it the “week that wasn’t”. We know it’s the menstrual cycle, the days when each girl is likely to miss school because they have no access to sanitary napkins or hygiene products.
THE YONKOFA PROJECT works to end ‘period poverty’ by providing hygiene kits to girls in junior high in the districts we serve—about 1500 girls each year! The hygiene kits include washable, reusable sanitary napkins, a leak-proof/wet bag, instructions for use, a soap sack, underwear, and a cloth backpack.
Calling All Crafters!
Do you like to sew? Is your church or community group looking for a way to help girls stay in school? Consider making pads and other materials for the Keep Girls in School project. You can find instructions, videos, and patterns linked here:
Menstural Pad * Instruction Video * Pattern #1 * Pattern #2 * Draw-string Backpack * Soap Sack * Wet Bag * Drying Strap
“We appreciate the help of Crafting Change, whose many volunteers have made pads and other hygiene materials for the girls of Western Ghana. The instruction videos and patterns are available to you, thanks to Crafting Change. Thanks also to the many ‘craftivists’ who give time and talent to this work. Your help has made a life-changing difference for young girls in western Ghana”
We need your help, too. Support this work through our Go Fund Me page: https://gofund.me/98e40de9e
or donate underwear, pens or pencils through our Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3VOONRUD331US?ref_=wl_share
Shipping your work to THE YONKOFA PROJECT is just $20 per box through GiveBackBox. Please include this PACKING SLIP in each box that is shipped.
Mail your items to Yonkofa at this address (or print this shipping label):
The Yonkofa Project-Keep Girls in School c/o Rapid Aviation, 4777 Aviation Pkwy, Suite H Atlanta, GA 30349
Would you like to help? Contact Sue Wilson, project organizer, at swilsonsmail@gmail.com or Linda Wuest at lindawuest4@gmail.com
Keep Girls in School was inspired by George Forson, a physician’s assistant at the Yonkofa Health Centre in Yiwabra-Nkwanta.
“I found that young girls started missing school at a certain age, often for a week each month. They could not find or afford menstrual pads and became embarrassed at school. Some of the top students even dropped out. These young ladies could have been doctors or nurses. I started buying pads for them myself and asked Dr. Nanci for help. Now, thanks to Yonkofa friends in America, many of the girls can receive supplies and will stay in school. Your gift is for a bright future for wonderful, smart young girls.”