Int’l Service Group vows to tackle ‘Period Poverty’

On the observance of World Menstrual Hygiene Day in Liberia, an acclaimed international service organization Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) working with Our Children Future, has vowed to tackle Period Poverty in Liberia. 

Period Poverty describes the struggle many low-income women and girls face while trying to afford menstrual products. The term also refers to the increased economic vulnerability women and girls face due the financial burden posed by menstrual supplies.

Speaking during the celebration of the day at the Owensgrove Public School in Grand Bassa County at the weekend, Madam Clarine Simpson Vaughn, a representative of  Alpha, said the organization is poised to work through its implementing organization,  Our Children Future to alleviate problems affecting girls and women by improving their social status. 

Part of the idea, she said would be to solve the problem of period poverty by making sure that girls across the country have access to sanitary pads so as to enable them stay in school. 

She said by staying in school, young girls will be able to attain the full education to in turn impact society through the nation’s building process. 

“We are partnering with Our Children Future because you are our children and you are our future. Let me in a very special way thank Our Children Future for leading this initiative,” the AKA official stated. 

In remarks, Madam Josephine K. Barclay, Founder of Our Children Future, lauded AKA for the support to her organization in its menstrual education program. 

She said the program with support from AKA can boast of huge prospect, counting from 30 to 50 girls to AKA now supporting over 1,000 girls across Liberia. 

“I am so proud of AKA. In fact, AKA is the best organization in the world to me and I am not afraid to say this anywhere because AKA has is going deep down into our business; into our lives as it continues to make our business its business,” Madam Barclay indicated. 

“To take care of over 1,000 girls in this country with their basic needs is not easy. AKA is truly a mother without borders,” she added. 

For his part, the Principal of the Owensgrove Public School,  D. Horace Gibson, commended Our Children Future and AKA for the selection of the school to attain such benefit. 

“You are always here with us and I am very impressed. We are very satisfied with your work of buttressing government’s effort,” Principal Gibson, among other things,  told the gathering.