Monrovia – Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has donated LD$2 million to the Liberian Red Cross Society to help implement its projects, including women empowerment.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
The donation was made Monday in Monrovia at the LNRCS headquarters for its Women training and Integration Program (WIN) beneficiaries.
The project targets women and girls affected by the conflict including ex-combatants, single mothers/self-supported and commercial sex workers among others.
“I want to talk to some of the international partners that this program cannot end, I know you want to help us build Liberia under our President’s Pro-Poor agenda, which means, making Liberia works for Liberians,” Howard-Taylor said.
“This program must be supported and in support of our Pro-Poor agenda, I would like to give this envelope to the President of the Red Cross and it partners.”
The VP expressed disappointment in the appalling livelihood of some Liberian women whom she said must be given serious attention.
Her comment comes in the wake of complaints from some beneficiaries of the Red Cross WIN Program over maltreatment from their spouses, thus leading them to become single parents.
But VP Taylor said women, including those benefiting from the Red Cross program, have the potential of being self-dependent once given maximum empowerment.
“Those who have been chosen, in spite of the challenges of this program, I know that God will make a way. So, I want to encourage you, with the step you have taken forward, to continue,” the VP averred.
She lauded the Red Cross for the program which aims at restoring dignity, values and morals of the vulnerable and marginalized women and girls of slum communities that do not have formal education.
Beneficiaries of age 13 to 45, while their spouses and children are the secondary direct beneficiaries.
Howard-Taylor said the training is good but there is also a need to further support the beneficiaries by providing equipment that will help buttress their capacity.
“If you are a tailor or hairdresser, what are the things you need to start and I believe God brought me that way so I could see another side, so we thanks Red Cross for this program,” VP Taylor noting that women will be respected if they are given the chance to build their capacity.
She then pledged to provide support to the LNRCS microloan program, which will also enhance the women empowerment program.
Meanwhile, LNRCS President Jerome Clarke lauded the Vice President for the donation, noting that it would be used properly.
He said the gesture speaks to many things, saying “If you assist someone when they are in need, I will compare it to uniting yourself to that person and those persons are you – who are already beneficiaries,” Clarke said.
He said the donation is significant for the implementation of key WIN programs including psychosocial case management and documentation, adult literacy and skills training, among others.