Liberia: ‘I Couldn’t Write My Name, Now I Can Run My Business’ — Rural Women Praise Gender Ministry In Lofa

LOFA, VOINJAMA CITY — Rural women in Lofa County have praised the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for empowering them through the Spotlight Initiative 2.0, saying the program has improved their literacy, business management skills, and livelihoods.

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By Patience M. Jones- [email protected]

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The women made the commendation on Wednesday when Gender Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie visited Voinjama City as part of her ongoing county assessment tour. The minister was warmly received by county leaders and community representatives.

The beneficiaries described the minister’s visit as a rare opportunity to meet her face-to-face and share their experiences, while expressing appreciation for the ministry’s efforts to improve the lives of rural women.

During the visit, local women’s agricultural groups also showcased their locally produced goods, including a product called Bengadee, demonstrating how they are using available empowerment opportunities to strengthen their economic activities.

According to the beneficiaries, the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 has provided opportunities in snail farming, rice production, tie-dye production, and adult literacy, equipping them with practical skills to improve their livelihoods.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Makaimai Konneh said the initiative had transformed her life, particularly by improving her literacy and business management skills.

Konneh explained that before participating in the program, she could neither write nor recognize her name, numbers, or signs on documents. However, she said the adult literacy training had equipped her with the ability to identify and write her name and numbers.

She also said the program had educated women on the proper procedures for cross-border trade, encouraging them to comply with government regulations rather than resort to unofficial channels or shortcuts when traveling to purchase goods.

According to Konneh, the knowledge and skills acquired through the initiative have also changed how her family and community members perceive her.

“Before, I was not respected in my community, but now my family and community members respect me,” she said.

She expressed gratitude to the Government of Liberia and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for providing opportunities to improve the lives of rural women.

Another beneficiary, Weedor Jallah, said the initiative had positively affected her life and those of other women through livelihood training, agricultural activities, and economic empowerment.

Jallah said she could now identify numbers, write and spell her name, and manage her business more effectively.

She praised the government for prioritizing rural women in its national development agenda, noting that the skills acquired through the initiative had strengthened their capacity to manage their economic activities.

Gender Coordinator Highlights Progress

Meanwhile, Lofa County Gender Coordinator Winifred Willie highlighted improvements at the ministry’s county office and progress made in supporting women and vulnerable groups.

Willie said the ministry had strengthened staff capacity through national and international training opportunities, provided equipment to improve operational efficiency, and offered financial support to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

She also expressed satisfaction with improvements at the Gender Office in Lofa County and the positive changes she had witnessed in the lives of rural women benefiting from the Spotlight Initiative 2.0.

Willie thanked Minister Horace-Kollie for providing travel opportunities for some of her colleagues at the county office, expressing hope that additional staff members would benefit from similar opportunities.

She made the remarks during the minister’s visit to the county on Wednesday.

Minister Urges Women to Take Ownership of Projects

For her part, Minister Horace-Kollie encouraged beneficiaries of the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them and use the skills acquired to improve their lives.

She said the government was working to improve the living conditions of citizens, particularly women, and urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the support provided through the ministry.

The minister expressed appreciation for the testimonies shared by the women, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that empowerment initiatives translate into meaningful and lasting improvements in their lives.

She also stressed the need for beneficiaries to take ownership of projects in their communities to ensure their sustainability beyond the period of direct support.

“This is your project. This is your chance to change your life. Take ownership,” Minister Horace-Kollie urged the women.

The minister made the call during her visit to Lofa County as part of her ongoing county assessment tour.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection continues to implement initiatives aimed at supporting women and children, strengthening livelihoods, and promoting the empowerment of vulnerable communities across Liberia.