Pleebo VSLA Women Support Female Students

By Emmanuel Tarpeh Quiah

PLEEBO SODOKEN DISTRICTOCTOBER 24, 2025: The Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) of Pleebo Sodoken District has completed a major donation exercise, distributing sanitary pads to several elementary, junior, and senior high schools across the district.

The initiative which concluded on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, reached a range of public, private, and faith-based institutions including Jasper Grant United Methodist High School, St. Stephen Episcopal High School, O.S. Collins Baptist High School, Liberia Christian Assembly (LCA) High School, St. Andrew Lutheran High School, and the First Assembly of God High School.

Other beneficiaries of the gesture include LAB4LAB ECD and Elementary School, Sodoken Demonstration Elementary School, Sodoken Central High School, Pleebo Community School, LAB4LAB High School, St. Francis Catholic High School, and Pleebo High School, among others.

During the donation ceremony, Pleebo Sodoken District VSLA President Madam Maroline Geekor highlighted the importance of menstrual hygiene in keeping girls in school. She explained that many female students are forced to leave classes during their menstrual periods because they lack sanitary materials.

“Sometimes we see our girls in the streets while schools are still in session, and when you ask them, they will tell you they’re sick,” Madam Geekor said. “Though these sanitary pads will not meet their total needs, that should not be the reason why they will leave school.”

She further noted that providing sanitary pads within schools will ensure that girls can manage their periods with dignity, comfort, and confidence. Madam Geekor also appealed to school administrators to use the items strictly for their intended purpose and urged other humanitarian individuals and organizations to emulate the gesture.

For her part, VSLA Secretary Madam Martha W. Williams said the donation formed part of the group’s annual social responsibility to identify with underprivileged and vulnerable groups in the community at the end of each saving year.

“We see this as a way of giving back to the community and supporting our girls to remain focused on their education,” Madam Williams stated. She also praised school administrators for their tireless efforts in nurturing students and encouraged parents to play an active role in their children’s growth.

In response, several school administrators expressed gratitude to the VSLA women for their thoughtful gesture. They described the donation as timely and impactful, especially for female students who often face difficulties managing their menstrual periods during school hours.

“This support will make a big difference in the lives of our girls,” said one school administrator. “We are grateful to the VSLA women and encourage other community groups to do the same.”

The Village Savings and Loan Association’s initiative has been widely praised across Pleebo Sodoken District as a model of community-driven support for education and women’s empowerment.