Adubea Amponsah

Adubea Amponsah, 2024 Scholarship Recipients

Second (2nd) community service for 2025

Title: Promoting Empowerment and Menstrual Equity In Special Schools* 

As part of my community service activity, on the 13th of August,2025, around 1:30 p.m., I took an outreach to interact with students in my college (College of Health Sciences) and create awareness on menstrual hygiene and empowerment in special schools.

A few of my course mates found the topic interesting and decided to join. This opportunity was used to spark conversations and advocate for inclusivity, especially for girls in special schools.

For some time now I've observed that many empowerment programs and sanitary pad donations are mostly directed toward mainstream schools, often leaving out girls in special schools, those who are deaf, blind, or have intellectual and developmental disabilities. This observation was confirmed during my internship at a Special school.

However, these girls have the same self-care needs. They menstruate too, and they deserve equal attention, support and empowerment as well. 

In my presentation, I touched on key areas such as:

• The importance of inclusive empowerment

• Breaking the silence around menstrual health in special schools  

• How to advocate and recommend support for underserved groups  

• Encouraging people to donate and volunteer in special schools

Empowerment must be inclusive. It begins when we recognize and reach out to those who are frequently overlooked, so I encouraged the student body that the next time our groups, associations, friends, etc. want to support girls with sanitary pads, let's recommend, advocate and show up where the silence is loudest.

This outreach was well received, and they expressed their interest in supporting girls in Special schools moving forward. 

Warm regards,

Adubea Amponsah

2nd Year, Disability and Rehabilitation Sciences

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)