-As SEWODA ends one-day Training Workshop on Advocacy
By Charles Gbayor,charlesmenlor@gmail.com
ZWEDRU, Liberia- OXFAM GLOBAL is supporting a local NGO in a project on Advocacy and influencing for social economic right and justice for youth and women’ in Southeastern Liberia.
The project, which is funded and Sponsored by the government of Denmark through OXFAM-DANIDA and Implemented by the South Eastern Women Development Association (SEWODA), has ended a day-long training session on Advocacy for Community Leaders, Women,Youth and Civil Society Organizations in Zwedru, capital of Grand Gedeh County.
The group’s officials say this training Workshop is OXFAM-DANIDA partial fulfillment of the project on Advocacy and influencing for social economic right and justice for youth and women’.
It brought together over one hundred Participants from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, Rural Women, Youth Groups, Women, Civil Society Organizations and Community Base Organization Community Dwellers amongst others was held at the Famous Zwedru Youth Center in the New Zwedru Community.
The South Eastern Women Development Association was founded by a Group of Women from the five South Eastern Counties which include Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Sinoe, Grand Kru Counties and Maryland County, where the Association’s headquarters are located in Liberia.
SEWODA was established in 1995, after the Liberian Civil War had by then taken away thousands of innocent lives and the group was accredited by the Liberian Government in 1996.
It is currently working with ten Communities in three districts in Grand Gedeh County, Gbarzon, Tchien and Putu and hopes to cover the entire County , This Organization is working with national and international partners in implementing projects that seeks to improve the lives of those living in the South Eastern .
According to an official of the local NGO, the HQ of SEWODA is in Maryland County because it was the place where the Association was founded and established, making it the legitimate home of the Organization.
Since its establishment in 1995, SEWODA has been involved in the training of women in Since, Grand Kru, Maryland and River Gee and has extended to Sinoe and Grand Gedeh counties, in order to develop the minds of the women in skills and other activities that will help improve their lives
At the training workshop participants were several topics were taught and presented on by facilitator that might components of advocacy, Survival skills for advocates , Understanding the issue, Encouraging involvement of potential opponents as well as allies, Developing a plan for advocacy.
According the Project officer of the South Eastern Women Development Association( SEWODA ) Mr .Belleh G. Tarr, the project will last for twelve months and his organizations working closely with stakeholders and Community dwellers in Grand Gedeh County.
The Project officer noted that his organization is working with over five thousand citizens from three Districts in the County.
SEWODA says it is also working with it partners to keep working with the people of the southeastern Region and by extension the entire Country.
Mr. Tarr Cautioned participants to make adequately use of knowledge acquire from the day long training workshop and continue to preach positive advocacy that will bring changes to their lives.
For their part, the participants at the day-long training Workshop thanked OXFAM-DANIDA for sponsoring such Educative initiatives strengthening and improving the capacity of Government Ministries. They include Education and Internal Affairs, local leaders, stakeholders, Civil Society Organizations, Community Base Organizations, Women Leaders, Youth Leaders and Community Dwellers on Advocacy.
The Participants told the project implementing partner, SEWODA authority at the workshop to increase the days of capacity and refresher training for stakeholders and Communities dwellers so that the proper message can be extended to respective communities and ,ministries .
They noted that the workshop was Educational. And they promised to take the messages and knowledge back to their people they represent.
The participants also encourage partners to make funds available do that Similar workshop can be Conducted for People in various districts or cities in the County.