15-year-old OLAG SHS student donates sanitary pads to school girls

By Antoinette Dzorgbenyuie KOTOKO-LETSA

A 15-year-old philanthropist and girl-child advocate, Abigail Mawunyo Letsa, a student from Our Lady of Grace (OLAG) Senior High School (SHS), has provided sanitary pads and other items to students of Abrade D/A in Mampongten-Kumasi, Ashanti Region, in commemoration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Through her ‘Red Girl Project,’ a child-led initiative based in Tamale, Northern Region, Abigail has been advocating for menstrual hygiene education since she was 12, using her project to mobilise resources to support girls who miss school due to menstrual challenges, helping them stay in class instead of missing three to five days each month.

This marks her fourth donation, benefitting 30 girls across the Northern and Ashanti Regions. Each sanitary pack contained underwear, Softcare pads, soap and a face towel.

The initiative aims to support junior high schools (JHS) and SHS girls who lack access to sanitary products, while also boosting their confidence and comfort during menstruation.

Senior Housemistress, OLAG SHS, Esther Ganu, commended the young girl and her team for the kind gesture in supporting the vulnerable girls to stay in school during their periods.

She emphasised the need for menstrual education, even for boys, to foster understanding and reduce stigma.

“There is the need for awareness creation to the boys on the journey of menstruation so that it will not look strange to them to the extent of teasing girls, just in case there is a leakage at a point in time during menstruation; but rather the boys would assist to grow the confidence of girls, knowing it is normal for girls to menstruate,” she said.

She also explained that boys need to give care and attention in this regard because all or most of them may marry one day and give birth to girls.

Madam Ganu encouraged further support for the project to enable its expansion, urging beneficiaries to use the items wisely.

Abigail’s vision

According to Abigail, the ‘Red Girl Project’ promotes consistent education, proper hygiene and the use of safe menstrual products, discouraging unhygienic alternatives like cloth, cotton or toilet paper.

“Every girl deserves a safe, dry and clean menstruation. No girl should miss school because of her period, as it’s a natural part of womanhood,” she said.

She highlighted that inadequate sanitary care worsens menstrual discomfort, which can affect mood and physical well-being.

Abigail expressed gratitude to her team and supporters, reiterating her hope to see the mantra – “Every girl deserves a safe and sound menstruation” – come to pass.

She hopes to expand her donations soon, aligning with the government’s goal of providing free sanitary pads to students.

Her mission remains clear: to ensure girls experience comfort, confidence and freedom during their periods, empowering them to achieve their academic and life goals.

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