Hi, my name is Esther, founder and team lead at Coastline Communities Development Initiative. We are ever on a mission to combat girls in-access to education and teenage pregnancies in rural coastal communities in Ghana. Coastal communities have the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in the country leading to early child marriages. Furthermore, period poverty is one of the main causes of girls' absenteeism in schools leading to teenage pregnancies.

In Ghana, sanitary products are classified as "Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles", which subject them to many taxes, including various import duties and 15% VAT, contributing to the high cost of menstrual products, making them less affordable for many women and girls, especially those from low income households. Girls resort to using tissues and old rags during their periods which is highly unhygienic and leads to various infections.

To fight against period poverty and to ensure girls' unrestricted access to quality education and health, we are embarking on a Free2Flow Campaign - a transformative initiative under our annual PAD2PROTECT PROJECT, scheduled for the whole month of May to include;

Last year, we reached about 200 girls with menstrual health education, de-stigmatization awareness and donations of reusable sanitary pads to underprivileged girls in Kokrobite/Oshiyie. These pads last up to two years and safe to the environment, supporting our fishing community.

Support and join us this year to reach over 500 girls and young mothers! Each pack of pads costs between €3 and €6. So, any donation goes a long way!

Note: Any surplus will be used to help in the construction of a toilet facility at our girls empowerment centre in Kokrobite