PHOTO: Women receiving their grant money in jubilant mood
By Tokpa Tarnue- tarnue82@gmail.com
VOINJAMA, Liberia- Vezala town, which is in Voinjama, the administrative seat of the northwestern Lofa County, was last weekend a scene of jubilation by three Village Savings Loan Associations or VLSA groups who benefited from a US$16,920.00 grant.
Each of the groups comprising 25 members who are traditional women are Vornebah, which in the Gbandi language means togetherness, Winlia which also means togetherness in the Lorma language and Yalazeagawugu, meaning in the Lorma language, hold my hands so I can wake up.
According to C. Mackins Pajibo, Program Officer for Women Solidarity Incorporated (WOSI) one of the implementing partners is part of the Alternative Livelihood for FGM Practitioners, the mini gran is one of the components under the European Union / UN Woman Spotlight Initiative for Liberia that is being implemented in five of Liberia’s Fifteen Counties.
Speaking on Saturday February 20, 2021 during the disbursement ceremony in Vezala town, Mr. Pajibo said the provision of the mini grant for the 75 traditional women followed several capacity building trainings in the areas of Village Saving Loans, Business, Agriculture and Adult Literacy.
He said the funds are intended for the traditional women to engage in various businesses in order to better their lives while at the same time continuing their savings as groups.
“What we want to see is that if you are selling one sack of water today, the next time we come, we should see you selling more sacks,” Mr. Pajibo noted.
He encouraged the traditional women to be regular in the payments of their dues in the various VSLA groups; something he said will help in sustaining the various groups and to also work with their leadership for a successful implementation of the project.
Each of the VSLA groups received an amount of ($5,430.00 USD) Five Thousand Four Hundred Thirty United Stated Dollars.
The 75 traditional women in 2020 cultivated over 20 acres of upland race farm under the agriculture component of the program and are expected to continue their farming activities while at the same time increasing their savings.
For his part, Lofa County Assistant Superintendent Samuel Mulbah on behalf of the county local authorities praised the Women Solidarity Incorporated (WOSI) as implementing partner towards improving the lives of the traditional women in the County.
Mr. Mulbah said the county authorities were grateful to the European Union and the UN woman families for the Spotlight Initiative in the County.
“I can assure you that our mothers will not make you shame; but they are well prepared and willing to make all of us pride as a County,” Assistant Superintendent Mulbah indicated.
In separate remarks, officials of the National Traditional Council in the County, the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection amongst others thanked the European Union/UN Woman for empowering the traditional woman in the county.
Beneficiaries of the mini grant at the closed of the ceremony expressed how grateful they were for the level of support they continued to receive since the launch of the Spotlight Initiative in the County.
Two of the beneficiaries Madam Jarso Nyound and Domowa Saizia narrating their success stories disclosed that the training over the years have taken them to another level in life.
The two women in a joyous mood praised the EU/UN Woman family through the implementing organization Women Solidarity Inc for lifting their lives.
“Before this program, most of us could not afford to send our child to school and even cater to their health needs but for now, we can do those things all by ourselves. So we say thank you.”
The women also vowed to ensure that the funds are used for the intended purpose which will not only bring pride to them as traditional women but to the county and the country as well.