Investing in Girls Education in Africa: Equal Access to Quality Education and Ending Period Poverty in Ghana

Investing in Girls Education in Africa (IGEA) is a social enterprise in Ghana that advocates for equal access to quality education and ending period poverty for young girls living in rural communities in Africa. IGEA designs programmes to remove barriers that cause high levels of monthly absenteeism in schools for girls. Through the Menstruate and Educate Programme, IGEA collaborates with schools in Bolgatanga, Northern Ghana and distributes re-usable sanitary pads and reading materials on menstrual hygiene to girls. IGEA also engages with parents, teachers, and community leaders through workshops around menstruation and taboos as well as the importance of girls’ education. IGEA was founded by Sarah Boateng, a social entrepreneur and passionate advocate for young girls living in rural communities in Africa, equal access to a quality education and ending period poverty.

IGEA designs programmes to remove barriers that cause high levels of monthly absenteeism in schools for girls. Since the inception of the Menstruate and Educate programme in 2019, IGEA has provided over 3,000 reusable period products to girls in rural communities in Ghana, reaching five hundred girls, nine schools, and one all girl’s juvenile prison. As a result, girls' monthly school absenteeism decreased from an average of 5 days per month to 2 days per month and their confidence in school increased by at least an extra 25%. Through the community workshops around menstruation and the cultural taboos, IGEA has been able to reach five hundred community leaders, parents, and teachers.

IGEA is among fourteen other Youth Ventures Programme (YVP) grant recipients selected to receive project funding and technical support from The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT). With QCT’s support, IGEA intends to work with ten professional dressmakers and forty trainees in the production of re-usable sanitary pads. They will then be sold to INGOs that implement interventions in education development with a special focus on girl-child education. QCT’s funding support will also go towards the Menstruate and Educate Programme, office set-up and administration costs.