Liberia: ‘Once Mocked, Now Empowered’: River Cess Women Say Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry’s Support Is Changing Their Lives

CESTOS CITY, River Cess County — For years, Felecia Zokpo, a mother of four living with a disability, endured the challenges of raising her children while struggling to secure a livelihood. Beyond the financial difficulties, she said she also faced mockery and discouragement from members of her family and community because of her disability.

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By Patience M. Jones

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But today, Zokpo says her story is changing.

Through the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), implemented through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, she received business management and financial literacy training, followed by US$1,000 in financial support under the Individual Enterprise (IE) component to establish her business.

The support, she said, has given her an opportunity to earn an income, provide for her four children and meet her personal needs without depending entirely on others.

Her experience reflects the stories of several women in River Cess County who say government-supported empowerment programs are helping them overcome economic challenges, establish businesses and become more financially independent.

“We are seeing what we have never seen before,” is how women in the county described the impact of the Ministry’s interventions during a recent engagement with a delegation led by Deputy Minister for Gender, Atty. Laura Golakeh.

The women welcomed the delegation with excitement, describing the Ministry’s decision to engage directly with rural communities as an example of people-centered leadership.

One woman said the visit demonstrated what it meant for government to move beyond Monrovia and bring its leadership and services directly to the doorsteps of ordinary citizens.

The engagement provided an opportunity for beneficiaries to share their experiences, recognize the progress made through ongoing interventions and draw attention to the importance of sustaining programs that support women and vulnerable groups.

From Economic Dependence to Business Ownership

For Zokpo, the US$1,000 support represents more than financial assistance. It has provided an opportunity to rebuild her confidence and improve her ability to care for her family.

Having previously experienced mockery because of her disability, she praised the Ministry for creating opportunities that recognize the potential of women living with disabilities.

Her testimony underscored the importance of ensuring that women with disabilities are not excluded from economic empowerment initiatives but are given the resources and opportunities to participate meaningfully in their communities.

Another beneficiary, Theresa Bannie, Chairlady of Women With One Voice, also credited the Liberia Women Empowerment Project with helping women in her group develop financial management skills and become more economically dependable.

Bannie said members of her group are now engaged in different income-generating activities while collectively saving money, a practice they learned through the project’s training.

According to her, the initiative has helped women understand how to manage their businesses, save consistently and contribute to their households.

She expressed pride in the progress made by members, noting that the women are increasingly becoming dependable within their families and communities.

For Bannie and her group members, the project has provided more than business support; it has introduced them to financial discipline and collective savings as tools for improving their livelihoods.

County Gender Coordinator Highlights Multiple Interventions

Providing an overview of the Ministry’s interventions, Maima T. Gweh the County Gender Coordinator for River Cess, said several government-supported programs are benefiting women, girls, children and other vulnerable populations across the county.

She identified the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP), the Rural Economic Transformation and Social Inclusion (REALISE) Project and the Back to My Classroom initiative as some of the major interventions operating in the county.

Under LWEP, she explained that women are benefiting through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and Individual Enterprises (IEs), which provide opportunities to establish new businesses, expand existing ones and develop savings habits.

She said women with existing businesses receive financial support to strengthen their enterprises, while others participate in savings groups to improve their economic security.

The County Coordinator also highlighted the Back to My Classroom initiative, which targets children who have never attended school, those who dropped out and children living with disabilities.

According to her, the initiative works with the Ministry of Education to identify out-of-school children and enroll them in schools within their communities, while addressing barriers that prevent them from accessing education.

She further identified the Nurturing, Empowering and Protecting (NEP) project as another intervention supporting adolescent girls through protection initiatives and access to menstrual hygiene products.

She said sanitary pads are being made available in schools to help adolescent girls manage their menstrual health without unnecessary interruptions to their education.

Beyond these interventions, she noted that the county office provides counselling, psychosocial support and protection services to women, children living with disabilities and disadvantaged young people.

Gender Ministry Strengthens County-Level Operations

The County Gender Coordinator also praised the Ministry’s efforts to improve the operational capacity of county offices through the provision of equipment and improved reporting systems.

She disclosed that after working with the Ministry since 2015, the recent provision of two laptops, office chairs and three standing fans represented significant logistical support for her office.

She said the equipment would strengthen the county office’s ability to perform its duties and submit reports without unnecessary delays.

She also highlighted recent training under the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS), through which relevant institutions received tablets to improve the collection and reporting of gender-based violence cases.

According to her, the system will support coordinated reporting among the Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Health and Liberia National Police, covering cases such as rape, sexual assault and physical abuse.

She emphasized that effective coordination among line ministries, women leaders, adolescent girls and community structures remains essential to achieving the Ministry’s objectives.

Having lived in River Cess for more than 10 years, she said her close relationship with the community has strengthened her commitment to addressing issues affecting women and children.

Reflecting on the government’s interventions, she expressed appreciation to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Gender Minister Gbeme Horace Kollie.

She said women in the county had given the President a traditional name meaning that people were now experiencing things they had never experienced before, particularly in relation to economic support and empowerment opportunities.

Deputy Minister Promises Sustained Support

Speaking on behalf of Gender Minister Gbeme Horace Kollie, Deputy Minister for Gender, Atty. Laura Golakeh, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to expanding economic empowerment and social protection opportunities for women across River Cess and Liberia.

Golakeh said the testimonies shared by beneficiaries demonstrated that the Ministry’s interventions were reaching women and vulnerable populations at the community level.

She noted that hearing directly from women about the changes in their lives showed that efforts were being made to ensure no one was left behind.

The Deputy Minister commended women in River Cess for taking the various empowerment initiatives seriously and making use of the opportunities provided through the projects.

She further disclosed that rural women had been included among the country 2027 budget priorities, assuring beneficiaries of continued efforts to strengthen programs that improve rural women’s livelihoods and economic independence.

Golakeh said the Ministry would continue working to ensure that women across Liberia benefit from its different interventions, particularly those designed to strengthen their economic opportunities, protect their rights and improve their social well-being.

For women in River Cess, the engagement was more than an official visit. It was an opportunity to tell their stories, demonstrate how access to financial support and practical training has affected their lives, and remind government that sustained investment in women and vulnerable communities remains essential.

For Zokpo, the significance of that investment is personal: an opportunity to provide for her children, run her own business and move beyond the limitations that once defined how others saw her.