PHOTO: Madam Lucy Jappy Momo, Executive Director, WOPA
By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- Hundreds of men and women from various Savings and Loan Clubs in this southeastern City of Maryland Count and its environs have been taking part in the official launch of the Women Peace Agenda Program over the weekend 403 kilometers from Monrovia.
From Zero to Hero is the theme of the launch. It took place in this coastal city and the motto of the group is: “Improving an Inclusive Participation of Women in National and Local issues.”
The Women Peace Agenda is a nongovernmental, nonreligious and Political Organization that originated from the Episcopal Relife Development in Harper District.
In January of 2019, Lucy J. Momo, who founded the EDR, resigned due to challenges faced by her leadership.
The rebirth of this institution is important to its current Executive Director Madam Lucy Jappy Momo, who said on December 4 of 2019, she collaborated with other and transformed the organization from a Local CBO to an NGO.
Currently, the Organization is working with about 31 Savings Clubs
in Harper District and has plans to extend to Pleebo Sodoken, Barrabo And Karluway Districts.
Delivering his Keynote Speech, Mr. Victor T.K Morris spoke of the importance to the Village Savings and Loan to women of the various groups attending the program.
He noted that the Vallige Savings and Loan Organization is creating job opportunities for men and women who are not working and don’t have formal education.
“Our mothers who are not educated and working can boast of sponsoring the children at various Universities across Liberia. Our Country Liberia is the oldest in Africa but one of the less Develop Country we have on Earth today but our Path of Development starts gradually.
Mr. Morris urged the leadership to build a team of professional people to move the organization forward.
“Build a Leadership team that will positively impact our mothers so that you can manage the people’s money and protect your character,” Mr. Morris said.
The Women Peace Agenda Organization aims to assist those business men and women who are down to improve their businesses and wellbeing.
The official Lunch program started at Saint Mark Episcopal Church were a intercessory Prayer was offered by member groups and the Clergy for the growth, development and unity of this organization as well as continuous peace. There was parade through the principal streets of Harper, which was climaxed by the indoor program on Saturday.
About 31 different groups from the suburb of Harper were invited to grace the occasion. The groups include UNCHR ,Rural Women,Liberia National Police, Maryland Oil Plam Plantattion/Cavalla Rubber Cooperation other are Caritas Saving Club, Liberia Revenue Authority , street Child, Jesus Put Just together among others.
A rally was also held and US$135 and LD$11,000 were raised during the indoor program to help the WOPA empower Women.
According to the WOPA Executive Director, Madam Lucy Jappy Momo, “We were limited to only Harper City and were told not go to beyond by Executive of the EDR and Vallige Savings and Loan.”
Madam Momo said women in other parts of Maryland County needed the loan to improve the living condition and life as well.
“I took up the challenge and my teammates and I when from village to village, town to town informing the people about our Organization they agreed to join us and we today found the Women Peace Agenda.
I resigned from the EDR because they refused to buy my idea of extending to Loans and Saving Clubs to other parts of the County to help improve others women life and this is why we regroup and found this group (Women Peace Agenda) to help our people,” she said.
The Executive Director of the Women Peace Agenda lamented that the women are now empowered and self-sufficient.
They are also being taught about funds Management and businesses education, she explained.
The head of WOPA used the occasion to appeal to Maryland County’s local authority headed by Superintendent George Prowd to allocate about five hundred acres of land to be used by women for farming, in order to produce crops to be sold on the Liberian market.
“Im glad about the turn out today, I never expected such number but they came to Grace the occasion, this launching was intended to create massive awareness about our Organization and I’m happy that we have been made known to the People of Maryland,” the WOPA Executive Director said.
The www.newspublictrust.com has gathered that through her initiative (women Peace Agenda Loan and Savings), parents who cannot afford to pay their children’s tuition and fees at high schools and Universities in the this County and the country tend to benefit from such a program.