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ADNews-Todee, Liberia: Women’s groups in Nyehn Town, Todee District, lower Montserrado County brag of significant transformation in their various business activities since the intervention of the Liberian Women Empowerment Project (LWEP) through its financial support and education the project has provided them over the period.
LWEP, funded by the World Bank, aims to strengthen women’s economic empowerment, promote positive social norms, improve gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, and enhance community-level accountability.
On Thursday, Nov. 27, 2024, Gender and Children Protection Minister Gbeme Horace Kollie, along with World Bank Liberia Country Director Georgia Wallen and LWEP service providers led by Plan International, visited Nyehn Town to strengthen visibility, oversight and support for the project across Montserrado County.
During the visit, beneficiaries shared testimonies of progress, saying LWEP has provided more than financial assistance; it has equipped them with essential business management skills.
Madam Joyce M. Dorliae, chairlady of the Fairness Village Saving Association, which has 23 members, said the project has elevated their livelihoods.
“This is our first time receiving four thousand U.S. dollars for each women’s group in Todee, and we are expecting another four thousand,” she said. “They trained us on how to manage our businesses, which is the part I really like. Before, I used to misuse business money, but now, no more.”
Joyce thanked partner organizations and the government for what she described as a “great initiative,” pledging that beneficiaries will manage the funds responsibly and transparently.
Ms. Carrie M. Denise, secretary-general of Leesay, a group with 43 members, described LWEP as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of women in the community.
Before joining the project, she said, most women survived on what she called “hand-to-mouth business.”
“We had no financial strength to support our families; every household responsibility rested on our husbands,” she said. “But now we can help send our children to school and provide medical care for our families. We used to sell with only a cup of paper; now we sell in buckets. We used to buy one gallon of oil; now we can buy many gallons. LWEP has empowered us to buy several bags of cassava to produce gari for sale.”
She called on project partners to extend the initiative across Liberia to uplift more women.
Madam Judeh Momo, head of the project’s Grievance Resolution Committee in Nyehn, explained that her team helps maintain harmony among members.
“We settle disputes among village saving members. Whenever there is a problem, we call both parties, listen to them, document the issue and advise for calm and peace,” she said. If issues escalate, she noted, they notify their supervisor through the 4433 hotline.
She said the committee is trained to promote dialogue and peace, earning them the nickname “cold water” among members for their calming role.
In special remarks, Minister Kollie urged women’s groups to use the opportunity wisely and remain accountable in order to “protect and promote national dignity.”
She emphasized that the project includes two components: a loan portion, which government will repay, and a grant portion, which does not require repayment.
Kollie praised the World Bank for its support and commended Plan International and other implementing partners for their dedication.
“Thank you to our powerful women. You are the hope of the nation, and we believe in you,” she said.
Plan International Liberia CEO Madam Mariam Murry encouraged beneficiaries to continue their strong performance, saying their success will determine whether more opportunities can be extended to other communities.
World Bank Liberia Country Director, Madam Georgia Wallen praised the women for their commitment to transformation, saying their success is shared by all partners.
“Women’s empowerment starts small and grows bigger, and you are showing that commitment,” she said. “You believe in what you are doing and in yourselves, and you are investing in your own positive transformation. When you come together, you are stronger than when you stand alone. When you are empowered, you move from zero to hero.”
She commended the women for using both the resources and knowledge gained through LWEP to change their stories.
The day-long program concluded with engagements involving health workers, police, court officers and SASA activists in Nyehn Town.
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