US-based sports charity, Soccer for Dreams, has sought to help female footballers pursue their dreams and not be hampered by their monthly menstrual cycles and all its challenges.
In this regard, the entity donated some menstrual cups and other health kits to some female footballers in Ghana. The event was held at the Ghana Football Association on Friday, February 17, 2023.
The gesture was in line with Soccer for Dreamers’ ethos of supporting “underprivileged athletic groups in underserved areas in Ghana. We aim to do this through fundraising, procuring athletic gear, and running health and educational programmes for these kids to help them maximise their potential.”
The President of Soccer for Dreamers, Sylvia Akwaboah, highlight the reason why the establishment has decided to help female footballers manage their monthly menstrual cycles so that they can still take part in the sport actively.
“The menstrual cups are just another way for them to manage their periods. We realize that pads are very expensive and when we started the project last year, one of the things that touched my heart was that the coordinators were telling me that sometimes the girls could not go to training because they could not afford the pads.
Nobody should not be able to go to school or training because they cannot afford a pad to manage their menstruation. So we thought we had to give them the menstrual cups because it was a sustainable way of managing their periods.
The menstrual cups if looked after well can last for 10 years. It is about the price of a year’s supply of pads and it can last for 10 years. They can go to school; they can go to training and they don’t have to live a life of limits. So, this is why we gave it to them, we are trying to help these girls and empower them to do what they love to do.”
Nana Akosua Agyeman of Anlo Ladies FC spoke to GhanaWeb and stated that the health talk given by Soccer for Dreamers before the donation a very beneficial to her and the other footballers who were present.
“The education today was very good. Every girl child needs to hear this. In women’s football, it is not easy, having your period and training or playing in the sun so if you don’t get protected by using quality sanitary pads, and menstrual caps you will fall into difficulty.”
In a related development, Soccer for Dreams also donated football gear to some male footballers and clubs as well.
The gear includes boots, jerseys, shinguards, balls, among others.
Strong Tower FC of Nima, Tema-based True Democracy FC and Powerlines FC of Kotobabi were beneficiaries of the gesture and they were grateful to Soccer For Dreamers for the act of kindness..
The boys also received a talk on nutrition by educating them on the best foods to eat for optimal performance on the field by Black Stars dietician Renee Opare-Otoo.
The event was supported by the GFA, Rotary Club of Livingston NJ, Kicknsticks Millburn NJ, Redbulls Academy, Codams Gifts & Cards, Accra, FrynBake Tema, Jenny’s Drinks, Tema.
The event was coordinated by the Ghana representative of Soccer for Dreamers, Stephane Lecosson.