Monrovia – As the Executive Director of the Girls Education & Empowerment Initiative (GEEI), Gwendolyn Dabah Wilson was a strong advocate for uplifting women’s lives in Liberia.
Her young organization which has been in existence since late 2017, is a feminist non-partisan and not-for-profit group focusing on providing educational opportunities for children and young women from deprived communities and empowering them to step up as leaders of change.
The group works on programs relevant to Adolescent Sexual, Reproductive Health & Rights, Child Abandonment, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence, Girls Education, HIV/AIDS, and self-help activities for young and single mothers.
It also develops and implements programs that affect situations for women, girls, and children through policy advocacy, empowerment and educational opportunities for disadvantaged girls to enable them to reach their full potential.
Last November, Wilson organized a forum which she says grew out of a desire to see more young women represented in leadership roles at every level with the desire of inspiring young women to step up as leaders and encouraging them to use their voice and share their stories.
Cornelia Kruah-Togba, who most recently contested the Montserrado County District No. 9 seat served as one of the panelists for that event and recalls and enterprising young woman who she was really impressed with. “She (Gwendolyn) invited me to speak at a program hosted by her organization for girls at the Ministry of Gender. When I read their brochure and the work that they did, I was impressed and agreed to speak to the girls. She had passion for what she did. All who had attended and worked with her for a while attested to this. They were set, as an organization, to make great impacts.”
Cornelia is hoping that Gwendolyn’s dream does not die. “It’s unfortunate that the vision bearer has gone this soon. Hopefully the team can keep her dream alive.”
A 2018 graduate of the United Methodist High School, Gwendolyn graduated from University of Liberia with a degree in Business Administration.
She was a firm believer that a lot still needed to be done for young girls to overcome cultural, economic and health burdens. “Young women cannot sit and discuss any national social issues without given consideration to HIV/AIDS, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Girls Education, Female Genital Mutilation, and all forms of violence against women and girls,” she once lamented.
Martin Kollie, a student activist and Secretary General
of the Student Unification Party, who worked with the fallen advocate recalls a
strong, brilliant, articulate and wise young woman – rich in vision and gallant
in action. “SUP was in your DNA. Side by side, we fought for social justice,
academic freedom, and peace. Our relationship was beyond comradeship. You
were a genuine sister, a true leader, a passionate friend, and a
dependable advisor. You were a young and an enterprising young lady who had an
unquenchable desire and devotion to lead change. Your impact on girls and young
women was phenomenal.”
Kollie said history shall forever dignify Gwendolyn’s outstanding and admirable
role. “I never knew it was our last moment on Sunday. Too painful, distressing
and unbearable to bear. Sleep on Dabah, sleep well – SUP shall forever remember
you. We love you my ally and special female revolutionary. This loss is indeed
a big blow.”