Paynesville City – Both Local and International Nongovernmental Organizations in the country over the weekend held the third edition of the Annual NGO Fair at the Paynsville City Hall, Paynesville City.
This year’s program brought together over 50 heads of NGOs both national and international organizations, including Plan Liberia, Kids’ Educational Engagement Project (KEEP), Concern Worldwide, ActionAid Liberia, SOS Children’s Village, Save the Children among others.
The Annual Fair aims at brainstorming and highlighting the impact that the Local and International NGOs
Speaking to journalists during the event, the chairperson of the Liberia International NGO Forum (LINGO) coordinating committee, Chuchu K. Selma called on the government to include women, children and the disabled people in its development programs.
According to Selma, LINGO embraces the government’s Pro-poor Agenda. He added that there is a need to work together to ensure that Liberia is transformed.
“Today’s program is meant to enhance partnership and help support development across Liberia, especially with ongoing development of the government. We think it’s important for government to seek partnership in achieving it objectives. We have to be inclusive into this partnership to help government realized (its) goals,” Mr. Selma, who also represents Wateraid, said.
The NGO Fair marked a display of various products and programs currently being executed across the country. The event was held under the theme: “Strengthening Collaboration to Leave No One Behind.”
According to Selma, inclusion and partnership remain cardinal in supporting the government’s development programs, indicating that the private sector also remains key to Liberia’s development and must not be overlooked.
“We are NGOs and think partnership with the private sector and the government is fundamental. We need to have everyone included into our national development. The people need to be at the center of development, including health, education, sanitation, justice and environment. We need to ensure that participation of the people and benefits are reaching to the necessary targeted audience or beneficiaries,” Mr. Selma recommended.
Mr. Selma believes that the government will champion and lead the development of the country, while NGOs remain supportive in the country’s total development.
“There has been gap in the inclusion of women, disabled and children in Liberia’s development programs. We have poor people usually from the slum communities that are excluded in Liberia and some parts of the world, because of social status and economic background.
We want to ensure that no one is left behind in Liberia’s development,” Mr. Selma said.
The executive director of Destined Kids Assistance Program, (DEKAP), one of the participating organizations, Helena Wenneh, said she was impressed with the NGO 3rd Annual Fair program, which has helped in connecting her with new people.
Destined Kids Assistance Program caters to children of disabled peopl, ensuring that they are in school, while seeking assistance from local and international partners.
“We have 100 kids currently being put in school, because their parents do not have the resources to put them in school. We help to close the gap of children who parents have the support and to those who do not have, especially disabled people,” Madam Wenneh said.
According to Madam Wenneh, the impact of the organization’s initiative will show in the future, stating that “Some of the kids would be doctors, lawyers and other officials that will help Liberia.”
Madam Wenneh added that she continues to get good receptions from the kids and their parents since the initiative begun in 2009.
Korpo V. Solbor, who also served as one of the panelists during the event, added that “This is the best way of moving Liberia and development forward.”
“This is my first time and I’m honor with the level of interactions. This forum will also help international NGOs to have some national NGOs to work within the implementation of their programs,” Madam Solbor, executive director of Women Protecting Female and Welfare said.