Accra: AABRYT Foundation has organised a mentorship and health workshop for students of WBM Zion Senior High School (SHS) to promote menstrual hygiene, build girls' confidence, and guide students in making informed career choices. The programme, themed 'From Cycle to Career: Empowering Girls for Healthy Living and Future Success,' brought together students, health professionals, and officers from Ghana's security services to provide guidance on menstrual health, leadership, and career development.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Founder and Executive Director of AABRYT Foundation, Ms Diana Akosua Adutwumwaa Britwum, emphasized that the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen youth empowerment through health advocacy, mentorship, and education. Ms Britwum expressed the Foundation's commitment to transforming lives through health advocacy, education, mentorship, and empowerment, particularly focusing on adolescents in underserved communities through menstrual and reproductive health education, educational advancement, and gender empowerment.
Ms Britwum noted the ongoing challenges of menstrual health affecting girls' confidence, school attendance, and academic performance, stressing the importance of involving boys in discussions to promote empathy, respect, and shared responsibility. She highlighted that the Foundation had donated more than 20,000 sanitary pads to over 5,000 girls across several regions in Ghana.
In an interview, the Headmistress of WBM Zion Senior High School, Mrs Abena Owarewaa Debrah, described the workshop as timely and crucial for students' personal development. She explained that the sessions would equip students with practical knowledge on hygiene and self-care, aiding final-year students in making informed academic and career decisions. Mrs Debrah praised the academic performance of female students, noting their consistent excellence in the school.
She also appealed for support to address the school's infrastructure challenges, emphasizing the need for additional facilities and resources to improve teaching and learning conditions. Mrs Debrah invited philanthropists, stakeholders, and the public to support the school's development, mentioning a current student population of 2,368, where girls form the majority.
The workshop, part of AABRYT's 'Glow, Grow and Bold Futures' initiative, was organised in collaboration with WBM Zion SHS, Ghana's security services, and other partners to equip students with essential health knowledge, mentorship, and career guidance.