HOTO: Rep. Marvin Cole
By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmenuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- In an effort to empower community women groups in the central Bong County, Representative Josiah Marvin Cole has announced that he will on May 28 officially launch a micro loan scheme, disbursing $18,000,000 Liberian Dollars to various local business women groups in Gbarnga.
Women groups to benefit from the program are drawn from communities in and out of district number three.
He said the initiative is in fulfillment of a promise he made to God by asking him (God) to bless him (hon. Cole) so he in return can be of help to the women of Bong County.
Rep. Cole, who is the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Bong County Representative, was speaking on the National Unification Day last weekend, when he visited women of the Sugar Hill community in Gbarnga.
According to the Bong County Lawmaker, the loan scheme will help women overcome poverty and “become masters of their own destinies”.
“My desire is to strengthen and support you, so that ordinary business people will be able to move from sidewalks to stores,” Rep. Cole said.
One of the main reasons why crimes are perpetrated against women is because they are not empowered economically which many men see as a burden, something the loan scheme intend to address, he said.
The vocal lawmaker stated that the endeavor is aimed at enhancing women economic empowerment to contribute to their homes and assist in supporting their families. “I Will Wipe Away Your Economic Tears And Restore Your Hope,” he said.
Rep. Cole believes that the loans scheme program embarked upon will also help bridge the economic gap faced by women and give them better opportunities for a sustainable future.
He continued: “If you women are to be respected and love by your husbands and further compete with your male counterparts in addressing financial issues, you must be empowered economically. And that is why we have come to inform you that comes May 28, 2022, you will be empowered in order to wash away your tears.”
Out of the $18,000,000 Liberian Dollars to be distributed among the different women grouping in and around Gbarnga, Rep. Cole disclosed that $LD2, 000,000 will be given to the Sugar Hill women on this Wednesday, May 18, 2022 ahead of the official launch.
Brooklyn Community, another with over 600 women will also receive $2,500,000.
“I have not come to pay you back, but to appreciate and empower you. I can’t over emphasize your support during my campaign period and will always fight to better your lives,” Rep. Cole asserted.
Some of the women who spoke to our Correspondent, expressed their gratitude to the Coalition for Democratic Change lawmaker for always stand-in the gap for them, even when their hope is gone.
They them prayed that God the Almighty continue to sanctify the hands of their son and his family, adding that the loan scheme, when launched will empower their individual businesses while also enabling them to help their husbands at home.