Paynesville – Vice President Jeremiah Kpang Koung showered praises on women and girls with disabilities upon their graduation from a six-month intensive vocational skills training under the “Empower Her” Program.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Launched in October 2025, the Empower Her Program is a national initiative for women and girls with disabilities, led by Second Lady Synleseh Stephanie Dahn-Koung and implemented by the Group of 77.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the first cohort, VP Koung, in a relatively short but inspiring message, commended the graduates for defying all odds to acquire skills that will propel them to another level.
He pointed out that their ability to learn new skills is a testament to their resilience, stressing that this is an important development for the growth of Liberia.
“All I can say to you is, thank you, I am very proud of you, Liberia is very proud of you. We look up to you to make a difference in society,” asserted the Vice President.
The 257 women and girls with disabilities were selected from over 600 applicants from all 17 districts of Montserrado County for the first cohort.
During the training, the graduates received basic vocational, entrepreneurship and financial literacy training in tailoring, catering and pastry-making, soap production, tie-dye, event decoration and arts and craft.
The training was held at four locations: the Group of 77 Vocational Training Center in Virginia, the Edward B. Kesselly Training Center (EBKTC), the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) in Paynesville, and the Compassion Women’s Center in Fendell.
Following their graduation, each graduate received a startup kit and micro-grant to start or expand a small business.
Giving an overview of the program, Group of 77 Programs Specialist, Stephen T. Kormoteh, explained that the program was sponsored by the Government of Liberia in collaboration with its development partners, including ArcelorMittal.
Kormoteh said the Group of 77 Vocational Training is a flagship program of Liberia’s Second Lady, Mrs. Synleseh Stephanie Dahn-Koung, wife of Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung.
He asserted that the new skills will now enable the graduates to earn a livelihood.
The Group of 77 Programs Specialist indicated that the government intends to impact the lives of all persons with disabilities by providing training and empowerment nationwide.
This, according to him, will enable them to earn their own living and not rely on handouts as a means of survival.
Some beneficiaries of the training program expressed gratitude to the government for affording persons with disabilities the opportunity to acquire life-changing skills and empowering them to earn a decent livelihood.
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