Monrovia – First Lady Clar Marie Weah has named agriculture empowerment as a best option of building the potential of less fortunate women in Liberia. Madam Weah also believes such empowerment will avoid them being abused by their male counterparts.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
Speaking Wednesday, June 19, at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County, the Press Director in the Office of the First Lady, Mr. Arthur Douglas said agriculture empowerment will be the focus of the SHE’s-YOU Movement expected to be launched by Madam Weah Thursday, June 20, and will begin targeting women in Montserrado and Margibi Counties.
Douglas and his boss, FL Weah, were at the airport to receive other First Ladies, who were flying in as guests of the Liberian FL’s SHE’S-YOU initiative.
Douglas said in addition to the financial and technical support to women, the program will provide other necessary supports.
“It is going to start gradually, but it is for the entire country,” Douglas added. According to him, those beneficiaries will be supported to eventually help the First Lady School Feeding Program.
Douglas further stated that the SHE’s-YOU initiative will also focus on empowering women to fight against sexual and gender-based violence in Liberia.
“The First Lady feels the trauma of those being abused and puts herself in similar situation and wants to take actions, speaks for them and supports them to reach their full potentials,” Douglas claimed.
Meanwhile, two of the four first ladies from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Niger expected for the initiative, have already arrived in the country for the launch of the SHE’S-YOU Movement.
The two are Ghana’s First Lady Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo and Sierra Leone’s First Lady Fatima Jabbe Bio.
During their arrival at RIA, one of the guests for the occasion, Dame Moureen Tamuno, President of SHEROES Nigeria, said women from Africa are in Liberia to support Madam Weah because of her desire to impact Liberian women. This, according to her, was demonstrated during the FL’s active participation in the SHEROES program in Ghana some months ago.
“It is important for such program to be held in Liberia to end violence against women, especially girls,” she stated.
Madam Tamuno hopes the program won’t be limited to Monrovia, but must be spread all across the country. Another delegate, Mame-Yaa K. Bosomtwi, Executive Secretary of the Organization of African First Lady for Development (OAFLAD), said it was important to not just participate but support women, who have potentials to make positive change. She has promised group commitment to offer Madam Weah technical support needed through interaction with UN organizations and other department aids.
“We intend to coordinate with the First Lady Office in soliciting financial aid and specific needs that will fight gender-based violence,” Madam Bosomtwi said
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