AIFO (Association Friends of Raoul Follereau), an Italian organization, is involved in the educational and economic empowerment of Liberians living with disabilities, such as visual and hearing impairments and paralysis. CRS (Catholic Relief Services) has partnered with AIFO to provide digital skills training to Liberian youths with disabilities in August 2024.
By: Samuel G. Dweh—Freelance Human Rights & Education Journalist, +23188661896/776583266; [email protected]/[email protected]
On August 12, the partnership hosted a certification program for trainees at Corina Hotel on 23rd Street, Sinkor, Monrovia. The event’s theme was “Click for Progress: Youth Digital Pathway for Sustainable Development.”
The program commenced with two musical preludes Michael Jackson’s “Heal the World” and “We Are the World” by a group of international musicians in solidarity with the children of Haiti.
Madam Comfort Sawyer-Baysah, Program Manager at CRS, delivered the welcome remarks, noting that the digital literacy training ran from August 5 to 12, 2024. Following this, Napoleon D. Bennela, ICT4D Program Manager of CRS, gave a digital literacy lecture focusing on employment, the environment, and advocacy. He explained, “Before the digital age, job seekers had to walk long distances to find work. Now, you can apply for jobs or enroll in educational institutions from your home.”
A video documentary followed, highlighting the experiences of disabled youths undergoing digital training, sponsored by AIFO and CRS. One of the beneficiaries, 19-year-old Princess Konah, who uses a wheelchair, expressed her gratitude to the organizations.
During the event, 14 disabled youths—mostly female—received certificates, though no visually impaired persons were part of the honorees. Princess Konah held a photo of Liberia’s Second Lady, wife of Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, during the certificate presentation.
Next, during the “Impact Stories” segment, Emary Jessie, a 40-year-old visually impaired man from Bong County and owner of a digital school and publishing company, shared his success story. He thanked AIFO for providing seed money to launch his business, Kwageh (a Kpelleh word meaning “We’re Doing It”). “We’ve trained over 1,000 young people in digital skills, and we’re currently working with more,” he shared, though he noted that equipment remains a challenge.
The Government of Liberia was represented by Deputy Minister of Youth Development J. Bryant McGill, who commended the project, stating it aligns with President Boakai’s vision of empowering Liberians with disabilities to contribute to national development.
AIFO’s Chief of Party, Madam Laura Todescato, provided an overview of the organization’s support to Liberia’s disabled community, including funding palm oil production, building offices for Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs), and offering financial support through the National Union of the Organizations of the Disabled (NUOD). “AIFO’s support is grounded in the United Nations’ principle of ‘Leave No One Behind,’” she emphasized, adding that Liberia’s disabled persons have much to contribute to the country’s development.
A representative from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), who remained unnamed, thanked the Government of Liberia for fostering a supportive environment for humanitarian organizations and pledged continued U.S. government support for the project.
The Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), Mr. Samuel Chu-chu Sumo Dean, Sr., who uses a wheelchair, promised continued collaboration with AIFO and CRS, emphasizing, “Disabled persons have the intellect to develop their country, just as those without physical disabilities do.”
James Kiawu, a visually impaired representative from NUOD, suggested that future digital literacy programs include visually impaired persons. He asked his escort, “Was any blind person certificated?” and was told, “No.”
Raymond Zarbay, Administrative Assistant in the Office of the Second Lady, praised the initiative and noted that the First Lady might collaborate with the project in the future. Sunnyboy Wiagbe, representing the Young Ambassadors for Peace, urged all those interacting with the disabled community to promote peace through both words and actions.
The program also featured sign language interpreters, Agatha Yah Borbor and Joshua C.V. Birr, officials of the Group of 77 under the Vice President’s office. The event’s Master of Ceremony was Victor S. Fahn.
