By Christopher Yarwoe in Buchanan, Liberia
Grand Bassa: The Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) has trained about 25 women and girls, who are community leaders, have now established the Bassa Women Caucus in the port city of Buchanan, some 88 miles from Monrovia.
According to the National Program Coordinator of WIPNET Madam Delphine Morris, the objective of the Bassa Women Caucus is to have a strong women network to support women’s agenda and produce potential women leaders to serve the county.
Madam Morris said that WIPNET wants to see the women have their own structure to coordinate their efforts, encourage village savings programs and seek support through proposal writing.
She called on the women and girls to develop their plan and ask the county leadership for support.
The training of the women and girls focused on building their capacity in leadership capability, in order to rise from one position to another bigger one, National Program Coordinator said in an interview with the local Magic FM community in Buchanan.
Madam Morris said support for the training workshop came from Kdina Till Kdina (KTK) and it was held under the theme: “Women Political Participation in Decision Making, Leadership and Governance.”
Areas covered in the training included: the importance of women participation in politics, decision making, community development, women in leadership among others.
The WIPNET National Coordinator described Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as a proud of women in Liberia.
“Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served as an eye opener to women of Liberia. She made us pride,” Madam Morris said.
“In those days nobody had the confidence to make woman to be in leadership especially in the presidency. But Madam Sirleaf said your put your trust in me and I will make the difference. So, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf got in seat. She opened the eyes of women and now we know about women’s rights, promotion of our rights, we know about equal rights, equal participation and opportunities,” the WIPNET National Coordinator said.
She said God has also helped them to have the First Female Vice President Madam Jewel Howard Taylor so they are proud again to have somebody at the top to still push the women’s agenda.
Madam Morris encouraged women at the grassroots level to work, show love to each other and put their differences aside and promote women who are going into politics at the community or national level.
She called on women to support each other but not to turn each other down.
The women who benefited from the recent training thanked WIPNET for building their capacity, which they believe will help them to provide better leadership and decision making in the county.
Madam Victoria G. Sherman, County Deputy Operation for the Liberia Marketing Association, said that from the knowledge gained, she has the faith that she can provide better political leadership in Liberia.
Lucy Garpue, women’s leader of God Bless You Hill Community in Buchanan said that she learned that leaders should have open mind and promote togetherness.
Also speaking, the Women leader of the United Women Friendship Club of Kpany Town in Buchanan Lucky B. Zoegar, learned about participation and how to settle dispute between people but not to encourage violence in the community. She said that from this workshop, women should participate in decision making and fight to excel to political leadership regardless of their education.
In the view of Beatrice Walla, Advisor of the Dry Rice Market at Upper Buchanan “nothing that a man can do that a woman cannot do.”
Beatrice said that she learned that a leader should be flexible, tolerant and humble but not to be a dictator in serving the people.
She added that women should learn to back a woman who decides to take on a political leadership such as Superintendent, Representative and Senator Position.
Oretha B. Tommy Women Leader of Kpany Town said that she learned about women political participation in society. Oretha mentioned that they also have equal right like men to become president, vice president, superintendent and commissioners but all depend on the participation and output to others in the society.
“When women in any organization and heading for something, they are found to be more united than men and they can win soul quicker than men,” Madam Oretha stated.
For her part, Madam Frances J. Brown Women’s Leader of Corn Farm Community in Buchanan said that she learned that character makes a good leader.
According to Madam Brown, she learned at the training that a leader should show love to everyone.
She said that she intends working with women, girls, men as well as the youth (especially the Zogoes) to bring transformation in the community.