By Tokpa Tarnue- tarnue82@gmail.com
Voinjama, Liberia- Over 25 women in Lofa County are currently benefiting from an empowerment program in Liberia’s northwestern Lofa County.
The empowerment program, which is been provided by the Foundation for Women and Children Empowerment (FOWAC), is targeting venerable women from both Voinjama and Quardu Gboni districts who were affected directly or indirectly by the deadly Ebola Virus diseases.
Speaking to journalists last weekend in the provincial capital, Voinjama city, the Executive director for the Foundation for Women and Children Empowerment (FOWAC) Haja Talawallay, disclosed that the objective of the program is to help reduce poverty through the provision of micro loans to the vulnerable women.
Those involved in agricultural activities within the two districts are also being given farming implements.
She said funds provided for the loan are normally generated through individual contributions and not a specific donor and as such they are finding it difficult to cover the entire county at the moment.
“Wants we can have the support, we are planning to increase the number women and children benefiting my move into all of the districts of the county,” Director Talawallay emphasized.
In separate interviews, the women praised the Foundation for Women and Children Empowerment (FOWAC) for helping to improve their lives through its empowerment program.
According to them, the program has provided them some level of empowerment by even sending their children to schools and other responsibilities both at home and in their respective communities.
“We are pleading to central government and other NGOs to also help provide support to FOWAC so that they can continue to support us,” the women noted.
They said, this will also help in reducing poverty under the CDC led government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.