-Lectures on Success
By Samuel G. Dweh- Freelance development journalist
+231 (0)886618906/776583266/samuelosophy@yahoo.com
Her presence boosted the image of a group—Sustainable Women for Development and Empowerment—struggling for recognition from Liberia’s VIPs (Very Important Personalities) to support the group’s main-pillar project: Empowerment via literacy (reading and writing)
Officially welcoming Liberia’s Culture Ambassador Juli Endee, the group’s Spokesperson, Naomi B. Harris, stated: “In Liberia, we welcome a prominent cultural personality with a cultural gift”, and presented five pieces of kola nuts.
The program was the 2nd Anniversary of the Sustainable Women for Development and Empowerment, held on January 1, 2020 in the Sophie’s Community, Congo Town—base of the group.
“The lead-steps to the development of any Nation, in any part of the World, are what you are moving with: educating one another and economically empowering one another in petty business,” said the Guest Speaker, National Culture Ambassador Juli Endee.
Education is not only about being able to read or write, but also about accepting the cultural norms of one’s native background, added the Guest Speaker attired in a “native suit”—a red blouse made from cotton and black skirt (each woven on a local weaving machine in Liberia) “When we are not in coat suits made abroad, people call us ‘native women’ with disrespect.”
She said Liberian women should “rebrand” their advocacy in the New Year (2020) and in each of the following years.
“Our advocacy should now focus on protecting the privacy of women. Some persons take pictures of women’s nakedness and post them on Facebook. Everybody is now seeing on the Social Media what we do in our bedrooms. This is against the culture of any region of Liberia.”
While other Countries’ citizens are using the Internet or Facebook to develop their respective Nations, Liberians are using it to “destroy” their Country, the National Cultural Icon averred.
She said some Liberians, from economically privileged background, have created a “darkness” of destitution (lack) or drug-related uselessness of other Liberians.
“They spoil the poor women’s children with drugs, so that these drugged young people won’t go to school, like their children. Pulling these disadvantaged Liberians out of this darkness is one of the great challenges facing Liberia.”
But, the Culture Ambassador of Liberia blamed women of Liberia for being the cause of most of the problems causing emotional and psychological pangs in them.
“There’s so much divisiveness in the community of women of Liberia!” she blasted with an emotion-laden tone. “Most of the time, we are the cause our own problem.”
On examples of how women have become the cause of issues confronting them, the National Culture Ambassador mentioned envy, political partiality or selfishness, and several others.
“Some Liberian women’s groups undermine others on bidding process to get grants from foreign funding organizations…During national elections time, most of us say, One For Some, instead of One for All as we say before elections time.”
This portion of the Speech caused a resounding applause from members of the Sustainable Women for Development and Empowerment whose motto is “All for One, One for All”
The Guest Speaker ended her speech with the “three Cs and three Ds of Success”
“The three Cs stand for: Commitment, Common Sense, and Creativity. The three Ds are: Dedication, Devotion, and Determination,” she lectured.
The invited Motivational Speaker at the program, Mrs. Naomi Sonkalanka, described women as “First Respondents”, because, according to her, they are often the first to respond to “emergency situations”
“When a problem is in the home, the woman will be the first to call attention for solution,” she threw her argument to the assemblage of women and men at the program. “During the Ebola period in our Country, women were the First Respondents in many of the cases.”
She cautioned members of the Sustainable Women for Development and Empowerment to keep out gossip spirit from their midst.
“It’s what dismantles a group, or stalls the group’s progress for National development,” she cautioned.
The Motivational Speaker’s caution against “gossip” was the subject of a Drama by nine members of the Sustainable Women for Development and Empowerment. In the Drama, Monica (played by Elizabeth Wesseh) gossiped about Yassa (played by Klubo Weaye) as an AIDs patient, Tuberculosis patient and biologically infertile (barren) to Bendu (played by Maima Mondaymah Forkay), who later spread the rumour to other friends. The rumor causes health fear in palm oil and potato leaf traders on which they refuse to sell to the “sick woman”. On this Yassa runs to the “Doctor” (played by Laykrua Paye), who pronounces her “free” from all sickness labeled against her. Later, Yassa runs to the “Community’s Chairlady” (played by Tata) S. Massawala who orders the “Town Crier” (played by Bendu Kayee) to summon all those involved in the gossip, and orders the gossip ringleader to spread around the entire “Community” written information (on pieces of sheet) of her falsehood.
Giving Remark, the Acting Chairman of Sophie’s Community, Mr. Koiwa Massawala, praised the leadership of the Sustainable Women for Development and Empowerment for its empowerment programs, especially the one related to teaching the Community’s women to read and write.
“Based on progress I’m seeing, I can say majority of our women will be able to read and write than the same percentage of our men in the next five to ten years,” he predicted.
The Chairman of Sophie’s Community, Mot. Roseline W. Vaye, said the Community’s Development Fund, raised during her leadership, is still in the Bank for the past five years, and asked the Community to restructure a vibrant leadership to which she would release legal bank’s documents for withdrawal of the money.
A blind guest, Madam Comfort P.B. Mulbah, declared her intension for membership status.
The 2nd Anniversary celebration ended with a Rally to raise money for the group to implement its earmarked goals. The total physical cash raised was seven thousand Liberian Dollars ( US$36.84—at the current exchange rate of US$1 to LD$190)
The Sustainable Women for Development and Empowerment was founded on January 1, 2017 to do the following: Unite the women of Sophie’s Community, Educate the Community’s women through literacy (reading and writing programs), teach and motivate them on money saving (Susu—weekly)
The Group’s official Membership record at the 2nd Anniversary celebration showed a total of twenty-two (22) Active Members.