The girls of Ganta are marching for something many people are still afraid to talk about. On June 16, girls in Ganta, Liberia took to the streets. Not because they are seeking attention. Not because they want special treatment.

But because a barrier affecting their education remains difficult to discuss—even among the adults responsible for protecting them. For many girls in Ganta, menstruation is still considered a taboo subject.

And when a problem cannot be discussed openly, it becomes much harder to solve. The result is that many girls quietly miss school during their menstrual periods, falling behind in their education through no fault of their own. This is the issue the girls are marching to bring into the light.

A Barrier Few People See

When people think about barriers to education, they often think about school fees, books, uniforms, or transportation.

But some barriers are less visible. A girl may be ready to learn. She may have dreams for her future. She may want to become a teacher, a nurse, a business owner, or a leader in her community. Yet every month, a challenge she did not choose can interrupt her education.

Without access to menstrual products, appropriate WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) support, and open community conversations, many girls face difficult choices that no child should have to make.

The tragedy is not simply that girls miss school. The tragedy is that many begin to believe this is normal.

The Future These Girls Deserve

Imagine a community where no girl has to choose between her dignity and her education.

Imagine girls attending school confidently every day of the month. Imagine mothers, fathers, teachers, pastors, chiefs, opinion leaders, and government representatives working together to ensure girls have the support they need to thrive.

Imagine a generation of girls who complete their education without menstruation becoming a barrier to their future. This is the future the girls of Ganta are asking us to help build.

Why the March Matters

The march is about more than awareness. It is a call for action. The girls are helping start a conversation that has remained silent for too long.

But awareness alone is not enough. Real change requires communities to come together to address both the immediate needs and the deeper systemic issues affecting girls.

That is why ANIDA and community partners are working toward solutions at multiple levels. Many girls simply need access to menstrual products.

For as little as CAD $5 per month, you can join a growing community working to remove barriers that prevent girls from learning, growing, and reaching their full potential. A small act of support can prevent a child from missing valuable days of learning.

The Bigger Goal

Providing support for girls today is important. But lasting change requires more than meeting immediate needs.

That is why we are also working to build a growing movement of Hope Builders who believe no girl should lose educational opportunities because of menstruation.

Our goal is to gather 1,000 voices through email sign-ups from people who want to see girls protected, supported, and able to remain in school.

Together, those voices will help us engage chiefs, spiritual leaders, opinion leaders, educators, and local decision-makers in a community-wide conversation about protecting the dignity, education, and future of girls.

Because lasting change happens when communities come together to remove barriers and create opportunities for every child to thrive.

Become a Hope Builder

The girls of Ganta are asking their community to have a conversation that is long overdue.

They are speaking up because they believe no girl should lose educational opportunities because of menstruation. We believe that too.

That is why we are inviting you to become part of the Hope Builders Community—a growing group of individuals who come together to ensure that the right things are done, barriers are removed, and children are given the opportunity to thrive.

As a Hope Builder, you become part of a community that believes girls deserve an education, families deserve support, and communities deserve the opportunity to flourish.