In many rural communities across Ghana, a girl’s education often ends just as her adolescence begins. Puberty brings new challenges that families are ill-equipped to address. Basic items like notebooks, uniforms, and sanitary supplies are already difficult to afford, and without them, girls are frequently forced to miss school. With no formal education about sex, pregnancy, or personal safety, they become especially vulnerable to older men who use small gifts or money to manipulate them into harmful relationships. What begins as an attempt to meet simple needs can quickly lead to unintended pregnancies, stripping these girls of their chance to continue their education and build a stable future.
Our work offers them a different path. Through after-school tutoring, we help girls stay academically confident and connected to their studies. By teaching practical, income-generating skills—such as sewing, beadwork, and other marketable crafts—we give them the ability to earn their own spending money with dignity. This income reduces their dependence on men who exploit their vulnerability and helps them regain control over their choices. With consistent support, these girls discover that they can stay in school, protect their futures, and dream beyond the limits once imposed on them.
The impact of keeping girls in school is profound and far-reaching. Girls who continue their education beyond puberty experience dramatically improved health and are far less likely to face life-threatening complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Their children grow up healthier, better educated, and with greater opportunities. Economically, each year of additional schooling increases a woman’s earning potential, opening doors to financial independence and leadership within her family and community. What begins as support for a single girl becomes a ripple effect that strengthens households, stabilizes communities, and transforms generations, creating lasting change that reaches far beyond the classroom.
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