About

years of experience

Founded in 2019, PADS for Girls (Positive Actions Driving Safety for Girls) is a mentorship program that tackles period poverty. We provide young women with free sanitary pads each month, alleviating the stress of affordability and preventing the use of unsafe alternatives. But we don't stop there. PADS for Girls fosters education, health, and women's empowerment through: Mentoring sessions to offer guidance and support. Hands-on vocational skills training to prepare them for future opportunities. Community service programs that promote civic engagement. We believe every positive action, big or small, can create change. By addressing period poverty and equipping girls with knowledge and skills, we empower them to reach their full potential and contribute to global progress.

Cohort Meeting - Once Monthly

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Menstrual Hygiene Education

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Hands-on learning Music & Art

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Community Engagement

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Vocational Skills Training Program

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BACKGROUND

Many girls miss school due to period poverty, a burden no one should face. We fight against the stigma surrounding menstruation and the economic hardship caused by expensive menstrual products. We go beyond providing resources. We offer education and information on crucial topics like self- esteem building, healthy young adult relationships, and recognizing all forms of abuse (SGBV) – empowering girls to navigate their lives with confidence.

PADS for Girls focuses on 4 of the SDGs.

Goal #1

End Poverty in all forms, Everywhere

Goal #3

Good Health & Wellbeing

Goal #4

Quality Education

Goal #5

Gender Equality

As a young Liberian woman, the challenges of menstrual /period poverty are not foreign to me. I had instances when the only means to manage my period was to resort to unsanitary means due to my lack of affordability for a pack of pads resulting in health issues; some of which persisted in adulthood. YAWC 2019 "Grassroots Mobilisation for Women’s Empowerment: Young Women Lead" inspired and motivated me to become a leader and affect change in my community. Upon my return, the question "What can I do?" nagged at me. I became more aware of the many young women in my community. I finally saw the conditions in which they lived. The present economic conditions of Liberia are not favorable. The cost of bare necessities is so high that the average Liberian can barely afford it. The PADS (Positive Actions Driving Safety) for Girls initiative seeks to combat period poverty by serving young women through the provision of Sanitary pads/napkins every month at no cost alleviating the stress of not being able to afford it and preventing them from resorting to the use of unsanitary items; while promoting education, health, and women empowerment.

Mrs. Lovetta Y. Qualah B.Sc. BIO

Dismissing it initially, I excused myself to the bathroom. There, I discovered blood in my underwear, a terrifying and confusing sight for an eleven-year-old. Overwhelmed by fear and unprepared for this new chapter of womanhood, I resorted to stuffing toilet paper in my underwear to conceal the bleeding. Days turned into a stressful ordeal until my father, with typical simplicity, returned from the store with my first pack of pads. Bewildered and lacking guidance, I had to figure out how to use them on my own. This experience ignited a passion within me to ensure other girls wouldn't face the same challenges. PADS FOR GIRLS was born from this determination. Our mission is to provide not only essential sanitary products but also education, mentorship, and empowerment to young girls. We strive to help them reach their full potential without the obstacles posed by period poverty. Through your incredible support, we've made significant progress. Hundreds of girls have received sanitary pads, over 300 have benefited from our mentorship programs, and countless others have gained knowledge about menstrual health through our school and community partnerships. Yet, our work is far from finished. Many girls still lack access to basic menstrual hygiene resources and the support they need. We urge you to join us in breaking the cycle of period poverty. Your donations, volunteer hours, and advocacy can create a profound impact on the lives of these young women. Thank you for standing with us. Together, we can build a future where every girl has the opportunity to thrive.

Grace J. Clarke, BSN, MPH

Patience Kaysee-Saydee

Board Member and Legal Advisor

Patience Kaysee-Saydee is an attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her firm, Kaysee Legal Group, LLC handles primarily resl estate and immigration cases. She was born in Liberia and migrated to the US at an early age. Her work with PADS allows her to stay connected to and empower Liberian girls and women.

Dr. Sandra Angel Nagbe

Mentor & Volunteer

Dr. Sandra Angel Nagbe, PharmD, MPH, is a Liberian healthcare leader and educator dedicated to strengthening fragile health systems. As valedictorian with a PharmD, MPH, and BSc in Chemistry, she excels in pharmacy, public health policy, and regulatory affairs. She lectures at United Methodist University and interns at LMHRA, focusing on medicine regulation and quality control. Dr. Nagbe volunteers with PADs and Pharmberia, empowering youth and improving community health. Her expertise spans pharmacy practice, public health, and mental health advocacy, driving her vision for equitable, evidence-based healthcare in low-resource settings.

Grace Clarke

Masters in Public Health | CFO, PADS FOR GIRLS | Social Entrepreneur

Grace Clarke dedicated public health advocate, financial strategist, and social entrepreneur committed to empowering communities through sustainable solutions. With a Master’s in Public Health, she combines her expertise in health policy, financial management, and social impact initiatives to drive meaningful change, particularly in menstrual health and gender equity. As the Chief Financial Officer and co-Founder of PADS FOR GIRLS, Grace oversees the financial strategy, budgeting, and resource allocation for PADS, ensuring the organization can sustainably provide menstrual health products and education to underserved communities. Her leadership has helped expand outreach programs, secure funding from donors and grants, and implement cost-effective financial structures that maximize impact. Beyond her role at PADS FOR GIRLS, Grace is a passionate entrepreneur who has launched and supported several initiatives aimed at addressing social services issues and disparities. Her ventures focus on increasing access to essential social services, such as Childcare and Transportation Services. She has successfully led projects that integrate public health principles with business strategies to create long-term, community-driven solutions. Grace Clarke is deeply committed to using her skills in public health and finance to uplift communities, break barriers to education and healthcare, and create opportunities for economic empowerment. Her work continues to inspire change, ensuring that health and dignity are accessible to all.

Lovetta Y. Qualah

CEO/Founder of PADS FOR GIRLS

Lovetta Y. Qualah is a proud Liberian young woman who is passionate about community service/volunteering, generational change, posterity and Mentorship. She is a licensed minister and a worship pastor at Life Nation in Monrovia. She is a Mandela Washington Fellowship 2023 Alumna of the inaugural class of University of Maryland Baltimore County. She's a graduate of the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences with a BSc. in Biology. As a YALI cohort 14 Fellow, she has earned several professional verified certificates from the YALI Portal, and a certificate in Child Protection (In theory and Practice) from HarvardX (Online courses from Harvard University). Her professional roles include being the Project Assistant at Orange Foundation - Liberia, and serves as the CEO/Founder of Positive Actions Driving Safety (PADS) for Girls Liberia and BioGirl, a biodegradable menstrual hygiene products company. She’s a MSW candidate at the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences. Her future goals involve pursuing further training in NGO management and operations and obtaining a Masters Degree in Community Leadership to enhance her role at Orange Foundation and support PADS for Girls long-term objectives, including financial independence for girls through technical and vocational training programs, computer literacy, and life skills education to empower young women.

Frankiner S. White

Volunteer

Compassionate and dedicated Liberian nurse, Frankiner S. White, with an Associate and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Smythe University College. Proven experience as a school nurse at Alexander B. Cummings School, where she excelled in providing comprehensive student health services, including eye screenings, medication administration, menstrual hygiene support, and health education. Actively engaged in community service, currently volunteering with Pads for Girls. Driven to further specialize in speech therapy to address and support children with speech disorders. She’s a MSW candidate at the Mother Patern College of Health Sciences. Her future goals involve pursuing further training in NGO management and operations and obtaining a Masters Degree in Community Leadership to enhance her role at Orange Foundation and support PADS for Girls long-term objectives, including financial independence for girls through technical and vocational training programs, computer literacy, and life skills education to empower young women.

Andrea Danso-Wallace

Lead Mentor / Board Member

Recognizing the power of volunteerism, Andrea Danso-Wallace serves as a Lead Mentor with Positive Actions Driving Safety for Girls (PADS). She is the Founder/CEO of Live to Love Charity Ministries with a vision to rehabilitate the lives of substance abusers. Motivated by practical acts of Christian faith, Andrea is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of people. She envisions a world of equal opportunities for all. With a background in HR management within the banking and shipping sectors, Andrea brings a wealth of experience to her role. Additionally, she is a gospel recording artist with a notable single titled "Victory" and many more. She is a candidate for Masters at the Cuttington Graduate School.