By Tokpa Tarnue- tarnue82@gmail.com
VOINJAMA, Liberia- The construction of a rice mailing facility valued at US$5,000 has begun for the visually impaired here in the northwestern Lofa County.
The construction is part of a project titled “Delivering Peace Dividends through Socio-Economic Empowerment of Disadvantaged Youth which is being implemented by the Progressive Youth for Community Safety Initiative (PYCOSI) in Lofa County with funding from the United Nations Development Program the (UNDP) through Naymote Partners for Democratic Development.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony over the weekend, Naymote County coordinator Eric Zubah disclosed that the project seeks to support promising business initiatives as a way to address community grievances and scale up livelihood opportunities for marginalized communities, giving them a stake in the peace and stability of Liberia.
“This initiative will specifically target young people who have been at the center of marginalization and frustrations as well as women and PWDs who will be empowered as peace champions within their communities” Mr. Zubah emphasized.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the executive director of the Progressive Youth for Community Safety Initiative Mohammed Kamara indicated that the project supports women, youth groups and Persons With Disability (PWDs) in the selected conflict-prone communities leading to the implementation of social-economic and livelihood program, which is aimed at reducing conflict drivers and enhancing peace and social cohesion in Lofa
According to Mohammed, they will also construct a mini market building valued at $5,000 United States Dollars for Samodu community in Quardu Gboni district as identified by the project beneficiaries.
For his part, the Executive Director for the Lofa United Blind Association (LUBA) Mr. Flomo D. Jallah expressed gratitude to the UNDP family through the Progressive Youth for Community Safety Initiative and Naymote Partners for Democratic Development for the level of support visually impaired persons on Lofa County.
“We are very glad to be a part of this ground breaking ceremony which is a history for the visually impaired community” Director Jallah indicated.
He said, this project when completed will improve their lives as marginalized community in the society.
“Some people still believe that persons with disabilities are just a liability to society; and that is completely wrong,“ he said.
According to him, upon the completion of the construction which is expected to last for four months, they will begin to generate income which will better their living conditions as visually impaired persons.