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Plan International Ghana’s Initiatives Boost Educational Engagement for Girls in Northern Ghana

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Accra: Plan International Ghana's adolescent girls' intervention in northern Ghana has significantly contributed to keeping adolescent girls in school and enhancing their education, empowering them to achieve their life aspirations. According to Ghana News Agency, the initiatives include the establishment of adolescent Drop-in Centres, the provision of school Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, and improved access to sanitary pads and changing rooms for girls. These measures have been instrumental in promoting a conducive learning environment for girls, particularly during their menstrual periods, ensuring their continuous academic engagement. The Drop-in Centres, equipped with indoor and outdoor games such as ludu, oware, footballs, and a television set, provide a dynamic environment where girls can engage in mentorship and sensitization activities. These facilities were assessed during a field visit to the Mimima, Sagadugu, and Guabuliga communities in the North East Region, where the interve ntions are actively implemented. The visit coincided with the conclusion of a three-day capacity-building workshop for journalists and media practitioners in northern Ghana, organized by Plan International Ghana, a development and humanitarian NGO. During the visit to the Mimima community, adolescent girls shared with the Ghana News Agency how the Drop-in Centre is empowering them to take responsibility for their bodies through Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (ASRHR) education, including menstrual hygiene management. Agnes, a 14-year-old participant, highlighted that the education received at the Centre has allowed them to maintain their dignity and stay in school during menstrual periods, thus enhancing their educational performance. Ms. Hamdya Baaba, the facilitator at the Drop-in Centre in Mimima, emphasized her role in teaching the girls good menstrual hygiene management and SRHR to prevent pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Parents in the community have also expressed ap preciation for the interventions, noting how they save their daughters from using rags during menstruation. Madam Abena Miyanga, a parent, explained how the provision of reusable sanitary pads by Plan International Ghana has ensured that girls remain in school during their menstrual periods. The Mimima community also benefits from the Educational Outcome Fund (EOF) project, which offers a nine-month literacy and numeracy training cycle for out-of-school children aged eight to 16 through Complementary Basic Education (CBE), subsequently integrating them into mainstream education. Madam Miyanga shared that her child, who had dropped out of school, has returned and is currently in basic five due to the EOF's CBE program. Furthermore, the Integrated Package for Sustainable Development (IPADEV) project has constructed WASH facilities and girls' changing rooms at the Sagadugu R/C Basic School, ensuring safe access to WASH services and menstrual hygiene management while at school. Schoolgirls in the community repo rted that these facilities have prevented them from missing school during their menstrual periods.

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