When Sandra Boakye, ‘29G, noticed similar challenges surrounding women’s health and menstrual equity in Ghana and the Lehigh Valley, she was inspired to enact positive change.
What began as a nonprofit in Ghana to end menstrual poverty and promote awareness of women’s health was brought to the Lehigh Valley with the intention of combatting these challenges in the local community.
According to its website, the organization partners with individuals, organizations and communities to address period poverty, advocate for menstrual equity and promote education for women and girls in Africa.
In the form of a club at Lehigh, InspireHer focuses on female empowerment and holistic women’s health.
Boakye is a doctoral candidate and the executive director of both the InspireHer club at Lehigh and the 18-person team in sub-Saharan Africa.
During her first year at Lehigh, Boakye held a workshop with the Gender, Leadership and Empowerment Center where a student-athlete raised a question about heavy periods and regularity.
Boakye said the interaction made her aware of the need for greater education and awareness surrounding menstrual health. To do so, she wants to create a nonjudgmental community that empowers women to have conversations about periods, reproductive health and mental health at Lehigh.
Boakye said the club’s educational mission also includes discussions about nutrition and body image.
The club plans to raise awareness of these issues through art and creative healing activities, such as writing and sharing poetry. Meetings are welcome to all students, including people who don’t menstruate.
There are currently eight executive board members, most of whom were students of Boakye’s.
“They are all passionate people who care about the vision,” Boakye said.
Khadijah Spall, ‘29, vice president of InspireHer, handles internal communication with the executive board and organizes events.
Spall said she wanted to be a part of InspireHer because she was frustrated by misconceptions surrounding women’s health care and the perception that women are too bold when trying to challenge them.
“We feel the need to speak up about it and defy the norms that we grew up with,” Spall said.
Anishkha Bhavanasi, ‘29, project lead, oversees club initiatives including events, fundraising and educational initiatives. Bhavanasi said she joined the club because she menstruated earlier than all of her peers and didn’t know how to navigate the experience.
“I want to be involved in this club to create a space where you feel comfortable menstruating and you don’t feel alone,” Bhavanasi said.
Spall said InspireHer aims to create a community where members can be vulnerable and share uncomfortable experiences.
Bhavanasi said Boakye’s passion for the club inspires her to bring the same energy for other students.
“She (Boakye) cares so much, and I want all of us to care like that,” Bhavanasi said.
Bhavanasi said other health and gender equity-focused organizations can feel removed from students, while InspireHer prioritizes connecting with students.
“It’s not just that we’re setting things up and then people can show up,” Bhavanasi said. “We want people to also come with their own ideas and changes they want to make on campus.”
InspireHer has subgroups focused on various women’s health issues, including social and systemic aspects.
The club has received 150 sign-ups so far, including 80 from the club fair.
The club’s first event will be a fundraiser selling period tracker bracelets to raise funds for the club and donate to organizations in need.
Spall said other events include painting about personal experiences with menstruation and a product drive for feminine hygiene products.
InspireHer plans to collaborate with campus organizations for events including LUAG, the Gender, Leadership and Empowerment Center, the Office of Sustainability and the Public Health Club.
Bhavanasi said InspireHer empowers women to better understand their bodies without having to rely on others for that understanding.
Boakye said another goal is to create tangible impact locally. InspireHer held a period product drive at Lehigh to collect donations for local middle schools. She said she hopes the club gives students a sense of belonging.
“This is not one of the clubs to show that we are superior to somebody or to seclude ourselves,” she said. “It’s a space where you can own it.”
She plans to expand InspireHer to other universities, including Lafayette and hopes the organization will eventually become global.
“Lehigh is just the start,” Boakye said.
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