Gender Champions Women’s Voices, Resilience, and Action

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ADNews-Monrovia,Liberia: The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam  Gbeme H. Kollie, together with Deputy Minister  Atty. Laura Gollakeh and delegation successfully concluded the first phase of a three-county field monitoring tour under the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), covering Gbarpolu, Bomi, and Grand Cape Mount Counties.

Across nine communities, women welcomed the delegation with powerful cultural performances, traditional songs, dances and moving testimonies of change. The communities visited included Supplimah, Totoquelleh and Medina in Gbarpolu County; Weajoh, Beh, and Karnga in Bomi County; and Fomba, Tosor and Fandoh in Grand Cape Mount County.

The visit created space for women beneficiaries to share how LWEP is transforming their lives through Village Savings and Loan Associations, livelihood grants, small business support and community empowerment. Many women testified that they are now expanding businesses, paying school fees, feeding their families, supporting household needs, and contributing more confidently to community development.

In Bomi County, women shared stories of moving from selling rice by the cup to selling by the bag, expanding soap-making businesses, growing market tables, paying medical bills and keeping children in school. In Gbarpolu, women celebrated the growth of VSLAs and encouraged others to “go back to the soil” through agriculture and productive work. In Grand Cape Mount, women spoke of moving from survival activities into stronger income-generating ventures, including baking, fishing, petty trade, and enterprise development.

Speaking during the engagements, Minister Kollie encouraged beneficiaries to use project resources responsibly, invest in sustainable businesses and continue working together to strengthen families and communities. She emphasized that women’s empowerment remains central to Liberia’s development and reaffirmed the Government of Liberia’s commitment to supporting women and girls through practical, life-changing opportunities.

On June 8, 2026, in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County, Hon. Gbeme H. Kollie, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, officially launched the livelihood grants distribution exercise. Six Village Savings and Loan Associations each received an initial disbursement of US$4,000, representing 50% of their approved grant award, amounting to a total of US$24,000. The exercise forms part of the ongoing grants distribution process being implemented across all LWEP project counties to strengthen women-led businesses and improve livelihoods.

The field monitoring tour showed that LWEP is not only improving livelihoods but also strengthening women’s confidence, family welfare, community leadership, and social cohesion. Through the voices, actions and resilience of women, the project continues to demonstrate that investing in women transforms communities.

Women across Gbarpolu, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties are turning opportunity into action. Through LWEP, women are expanding businesses, paying school fees, feeding families and building stronger communities. Their songs, dances and testimonies tell one powerful story: