Hands of Gold Foundation targets period poverty with nationwide 3G project

For many girls in Ghana, the cost of sanitary pads remains a barrier to staying in school.

Missing classes during menstruation can have a lasting impact on learning, particularly in low-income communities where menstrual products are often unaffordable.

The Hands of Gold Foundation (HOGF), a non-governmental organisation based in Accra, says it is working to tackle the problem through its flagship 3G Project – Get a Pad, Get Educated, Get a Life.

The initiative is being rolled out across Ghana's 16 regions and focuses on improving access to menstrual hygiene products while promoting education and health among adolescent girls.

As part of the programme, the foundation distributes free sanitary pads to schoolgirls in underserved communities.

It also runs menstrual health education sessions designed to provide accurate information about menstruation and encourage open discussions around a topic that is still widely stigmatised.

The project goes beyond the distribution of sanitary products.

Beneficiaries also receive health screening services and essential school supplies as part of what the organisation describes as a broader effort to support girls' wellbeing and keep them in school.

HOGF says period poverty is driven not only by a lack of access to sanitary products but also by wider economic challenges.

It has called for the removal of taxes on sanitary pads, arguing that lower prices would make the products more accessible to girls from low-income households.

The foundation says making menstrual products more affordable is an important step towards improving school attendance and ensuring girls are not disadvantaged because of their periods.

Campaigners have long argued that access to menstrual hygiene products is closely linked to education, health and gender equality.

HOGF says its 3G Project is intended to help ensure that menstruation does not prevent girls from reaching their full potential.