By Emmanuel Koffa
BOLLOH POE, Grand Kru, Libeira — For generations, women and children in Bolloh Poe have carried the heaviest burden of the community’s neglect, spending hours each day in search of unsafe drinking water while navigating impassable roads that limited access to basic services.
That daily struggle is now easing, following humanitarian interventions by local miner and philanthropist Haliry Gray, whose projects are directly improving the lives of the most vulnerable.
The construction of three new hand pumps and the rehabilitation of a damaged one have drastically reduced the distance families must travel for water, freeing up time for children to attend school and for women to engage in productive activities.
Residents say access to clean water is already improving hygiene and reducing waterborne illnesses, especially among children.
Beyond water access, Mr. Gray’s planned feeder roads linking Poe to nearby communities are expected to further improve maternal health access, school attendance, and household incomes by making transportation easier and safer.
Community members stress that the projects go beyond infrastructure, calling them investments in human dignity and the future of their children.
“This is not just about pumps and roads,” a mother said. “It is about giving our children a better chance.”
They are encouraging broader support for initiatives that place women and children at the heart of development efforts in rural Liberia.