In a heartwarming act of generosity, Obaasima, a charitable organization, recently donated 300 pieces (12 packs) of sanitary pads to 108 female students from two schools in the Prestea/Huni Valley Municipality. The recipients were the female students of Huniso M/A Basic School and Huniso/Pepesa M/A Basic School. This donation was made in direct response to a request made by the 2021-2023 batch of trainees of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation sponsored Graduate Training Program.
The donation of sanitary pads is an essential contribution towards addressing a pressing need among female students. Menstruation can often pose significant challenges for young girls, including a lack of access to sanitary products, leading to missed school days and potential embarrassment. By providing these girls with sanitary pads, Obaasima aims to alleviate some of these difficulties and promote their educational success.
The 108 female students who received the sanitary pads were overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation. The donation not only met their immediate needs but also served as a reminder that there are individuals and organizations committed to supporting their well-being and education. The act of kindness from Obaasima has undoubtedly made a positive impact on the girls’ lives and will contribute to their continued attendance and participation in school activities.
The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has been instrumental in creating opportunities and improving the lives of individuals within the Prestea/Huni Valley and Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipalities. The request made by the Graduate Trainees for the donation of sanitary pads highlights their commitment to addressing the specific needs of the community and ensuring that all students have equal access to education.
The collaboration between Obaasima and Graduate Trainees, as well as the support by Gold Fields Ghana Foundation demonstrate the power of collective effort in creating positive change within communities.
THE MAKING OF AN OBAASIMA
Why Obaasima?
OBAASIMA in the Akan language translates as ‘women in all their beauty, morals and kindness’. An Obaasima ensures general cleanliness, physical hygiene and even menstrual hygiene. However, menstruation and menstrual hygiene remain a challenge to many a girl child in Ghana. One (1) out of 5 girls between the ages 15- 19 feel excluded from school, social and home activities during their period. Among other factors, this could be attributed to lack of access to sanitary pads and the lack or absence of information to the girl child before their first
menstruation, among others.The Making of Obaasima
In the MAKING OF AN OBAASIMA, #TeamTaadiSEAP seek to provide some hands-on skills and making of re-usable sanitary pads, which is key to personal hygiene to the girl child, enroll some students onto the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and to educate them on basic menstrual hygiene.Therefore, as a call to action, #TeamTaadi has taken that simple step by seeking to distribute some reusable pads, made from local fabrics, to some students of Baidoo Bonsoe Basic School and Methodist Basic School, at New Takoradi, in the Western Region.
With a student population of 220, Baidoo Bonsoe Basic School has 45% to be female. Methodist Basic School has 50% female of 329 student population. Therefore, these pads would help keep these girls, who hitherto would be absent from teaching and learning for 5 days per month, in school thereby improving on the quality of education to the girl at Baidoo Bonsoe Basic School.
Marie Stopes would also be on board to educate the girls on menstrual hygiene. This is expected to provide the needed knowledge to those menstruating for the first time. These students would also receive some reference materials to aid in their learning of menstruation hygiene.
To confront the high cost of pads as a result of the 20% import tax by government and to ensure sustainability of the #ObaasimaProject, The Orange Girl Foundation, a local entrepreneur in the manufacturing of reusable pads would be on hand to train the girls on how to design and make a simple homemade reusable pad with local fabrics. This is to enhance access to sanitary pads and even open them to economic opportunities where some girls could make these pads for sale. The girls would also be educated on how to hygienically maintain the pads. Again, they would be trained on how to make these detergents with some basic materials.
To promote general well-being of the students, officials from National Health Insurance Authority would be on board to register some students onto the scheme.
These simple actions by #TeamObaasima can significantly change this reality for girls, providing confidence and support as they go through adolescence to BECOME AN OBAASIMA.
To ensure sustainability of #ObaasimaProject, #TeamTaadi is collaborating with Marie Stopes to set up Obaasima Clubs, a peer educator and menstrual hygiene club, in the schools to continue with the project. #TeamTaadi has also commenced processes to register the #ObaasimaProject as an NGO to reach out to other vulnerable girls in other schools.
Project Funding and Sponsorship
This project is funded by the financial contributions of the 8-member #TeamTaadi. The team also solicited for funds from colleagues and other members of the society to help purchase the sanitary pads for the girls.
Mpaebo
I believe in prayer.
I always did.
Well, I still do.
However,
It’s evident now; very.
I taya.
My arms are stretched.
Now
I guess it’s time to step up.
Retrace thy steps, son.
Say a prayer.
Christlike, Islamic or any other,
Just pray.
I will say a prayer.
Awurade, gye yen taa taa.
Gye yen.
Amen.
Non
Above the skys
That twinkle
So brightly shown
Lost in thought
Into thy empty soul stare
Hear the echoes
Of thy silence
Resound
Vision in the chaos
Dreams linger
Sprang from unwatered gardens
Scathed
Withers a desire
Unfulfilled
That twinkle
So brightly shown
That drop
That ripple
Non
Just survive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes,
I stay awake all night
Just sitting and staring
Sometimes
I wish I have it all
So you see your place in my mind’s eye
Most times
For you, a better future I wish
Wealth and health
All the time
I watch you both and
Appreciate the efforts made
Certain times
I’m afraid; fear for the unforeseen
Sometimes it just dey scare me chaley
Sometimes
Just some time
It will all add up
Gone for Two, Home for Few
“Hello
The lil one wonna talk”
“Dad, I did not see you.
I have lost you”
Oh no, son, I’m right here
Man is on his grind
I’ll always be here for you, son
I’ll be home in a few
Soon see, son
“Daddy, daddy, daddy
I wonna sleep on your hand”
Yes, he knew I’m home
He had to repeat his dawn routine
I’m always gonna be here, son
I’ll be home for a few, son
“Wakey, wakey, Dad, I’m awake”
Say a prayer, son, to Our Father
Amen. Ah mheen, what’s up?
You wonna drink something?
Oh yes,”…catch the fish and put it in the dish…”
Hold on, son. Sing no more
Mummy has all answers
Now son, I’ll be gone for a few
Son, I’ll be gone for two
“Oh no, dad, don’t leave”
No, son, mum is right there
Man gotta be on his grind
I’ll always be here for you, son
I’ll be home in a few
Wish I Could
Not even a shrill
I lost it. I saw it not
I wish I could
Have help
My heart,
I couldn’t breathe
He cried. He gave up
Again, I saw it not
I wish I could help
He only listens
But to her
Let’s break him
He will give up
He did. They saw it not
I wish I could help
Impressive countenance
An opaque heart
A watered demeanor
It’s in the eye
Just an oblivion
Pleas unheard
Unconcerned. Unseen
He wish they would
I wish I could help
May
Talk of May,
May I?
Never!
If I just may,
It may not end.
May ended anyway.
I lost it!
In May, I lost.
Predicaments? May I not.
That May?
Happen not again
That May
Happened.
Lacrima
Joy,
Anxiety, Stress.
Expectations.
Joy, Dismay,
Uncertainty,
Hopeful. Disappointed.
I dey laugh. I just dey pose,
But man is broken.
Chaley
Man dey hurt inside
Chaaaaley
I dey smile.
My eyes dey betray me.
Chaley
I dey look
But where my mind sef?
I dey smile ooo chaley
But
Man dey weep inside
Chaaaaley
I nor dey talk:
I scream in silence.
I wipe the tears.
Now I speak. I go speak up
Man taya ooo
Man taya
Chaaaaley
Ingrats.
“They don’t know
Why is going on”.
Broken!
Man is broken
Chaaaaley
Ryan
Ohene
Crowned before conception
You fulfilled prophecy
You are God’s perfectionYou are KING! Wo ye nhyira
You shall touch lives
You shall break and set new boundaries
You are blessed
You are a blessing to your generation
Me hyira woYou are KING! Wo ye Ohene
You shall reign
Be thou mightily blessed
Blessed beyond measure
Amen

RKBblog: Randomness 