Some young boys have raised money to purchase sanitary pads for underprivileged girls to prevent absenteeism in rural areas during their menstrual period.

The boys, with support from the general public, raised a total of GHÈ»1850 to buy a year’s worth of sanitary pads for girls at the Somnyame-Kodur D/A Basic School in the Hemang Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region.

Ethel Marfo. Founding Director of Junior Shapers Africa (JSA), a non-governmental organization, told Joy News that the decision to provide sanitary towels for the girls is aimed at helping them because they cannot afford them. WIthout access to the pads, they have had to stay home during their menstrual period. 

The boys aged between nine-13 years, were part of a boys-only boot camp organized by JSA, focused on grooming and mentoring boys to take responsibility when it comes to women and girls.

Marfo emphasized the need to groom male youth to enable them to discover themselves and their role as men in order to protect and advance the cause of women and girls in society.

“We want to help reduce child marriage, domestic abuse, violence against women and the best way to do it is to involve the young boys now,” she said.

Mrs. Marfo added that “we want the boys to understand women at the young age thus when they get to the decision-making age they will make decisions that will affect women and children positively.”

She advised boys to support girls and be sensitive to challenges facing them and desist from abusing them.