Building hope, block by block: PEC Instititute launches innovative pad banks

The PEC Institute, a beacon of hope for young people in rural Ghana, is tackling period poverty head-on with a unique initiative: launching pad banks in schools.

This innovative approach aims to keep girls in school during their menstruation cycle, a time often marked by absenteeism due to lack of access to sanitary pads.

“Most of these girls miss school during their periods,” explains Bridget Bonnie, the founder of PEC and a champion for girls’ education.

“Some even resort to transactional sex for sanitary pads, putting them at risk of teenage pregnancy and jeopardizing their education.”

The pad banks offer a discreet and accessible solution, ensuring girls have the supplies they need to manage their periods with dignity and continue their studies uninterrupted. This initiative builds upon PEC’s existing commitment to menstrual health. For the past three years, they have distributed sanitary pads, but recognized the need for a more sustainable approach.

PEC’s dedication extends beyond pad banks. Recognizing the importance of proper hygiene facilities, they recently constructed a washroom and toilet for Alorkpem Basic School, an island community school in Ada. This, along with their planned future projects, ensures girls have a clean and private space to manage their periods at school.

The success of these initiatives hinges on collaboration. PEC calls upon individuals, corporations, and the government to join their fight against period poverty. By restocking pad banks and supporting the construction of washrooms, they can empower girls in rural communities to stay in school and reach their full potential.

This is the list of schools that currently benefit from PEC’s pad bank program:

Alorkpem D/A Basic School – Ada
Amanhyia M/A JHS – Suhum
Nanasuano D/A Basic School – Berekum West Constituency
Presbyterian Primary School, Kutre No.1 B/A – Berekum East Constituency
Kokroko D/A – Techiman North
Fiaso D/A – Techiman South

This list serves as a testament to PEC’s impactful work and a call to action for further support.

The post Building hope, block by block: PEC Instititute launches innovative pad banks first appeared on 3News.

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