In some parts of Ghana, young girls still miss school due to limited access to menstrual products. In many communities, menstruation remains a taboo topic—shrouded in shame, secrecy, and stigma. For countless girls, this silence leads to embarrassment, absenteeism, and poor menstrual hygiene. Determined to change this, a group of MSc students from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) turned a class project into a life-changing movement.
What began as a coursework project is now the Obaasima Social Empowerment Project (ObaasimaSEP)—a growing initiative empowering girls through menstrual health education and sustainable solutions. Founding member Georgia Ashun recalls, “We had to identify a societal need, so we chose menstrual hygiene education. Our first outreach was in Poase, Takoradi, and the impact was so strong that we won Best Group Project at KNUST. From there, we kept receiving support and requests, so we decided to turn it into a foundation.”
Under its flagship campaign, #PadUpAGirl, ObaasimaSEP focuses on menstrual hygiene education, training girls to make reusable pads and detergents, and distributing sanitary supplies to underserved communities. Since 2023, the team has distributed over 300 packs of sanitary pads to 157 girls and women in Poase, New Takoradi, Effiakuma No.9, and Abekoase/Tebe M/A Basic School in Prestea Huni Valley. In 2024, ObaasimaSEP also provided 12 sanitary pads each to girls at Biene R/C School in the Eastern Region.
Each year, in line with Menstrual Hygiene Day, ObaasimaSEP deepens its outreach—aiming to end period stigma and menstrual poverty through education, conversation, and advocacy.
Through collaborations with local and international NGOs, ObaasimaSEP continues to expand its reach into rural areas, offering young girls access to vital supplies, practical knowledge, and emotional support. One beneficiary from Effiakuma shared, “I didn’t know how to manage my period properly until the Obaasima team came. Now I feel confident going to school.”
Unlike previous years where ObaasimaSEP organized full-scale outreach programmes featuring menstrual hygiene education sessions led by nurses and other health professionals, this year’s approach was different. The team decided to place more emphasis on direct donations—a shift that reflects how far the project has come and how its impact continues to evolve.
As part of the 2025 outreach, ObaasimaSEP visited three schools within the Prestea-Huni Valley District:
- Abekoase D/A Basic School
- Huniso Basic School
- Huniso-Pepesa Community School
At each of these schools, the team donated packs of sanitary pads—12 in each pack—to 100 students, totaling 1,200 pads distributed in just one day.
According to Miss Ashun, “the distribution exercise is ongoing. So far, over 2,000 pads have been secured through donations from benevolent individuals who support the initiative’s mission”.
Importantly, the support wasn’t limited to students. Female teachers at each school were also considered, with each receiving a pack of six pads.
This year’s approach tells a deeper story—not just of giving, but of growth. What started as a simple academic project has become a responsive, compassionate effort that adapts to the evolving needs of girls in underserved communities.