Sanoyea, Bong County – The United Bong County in the Americas, INC. (UBCAA) is a community-based nonprofit membership organization serving as an umbrella institution for citizens, residents, former residents, and friends of Bong in Liberia, those residing in America.
The organization invests in the lives of young people and vulnerable populations and helps build a vibrant community. It promotes unity, cooperation amongst members, and harnesses resources for humanitarian programs.
Since the inception of this organization, dating as far back as the 90s, its impacts have not been felt in its mother county, Bong. This grew a low level of interest from citizens back home, who felt the organization has not done much on impacting the lives of Bongese.
It made matters even worse when members of the organization residing in the US speak on a political issue in the county- the question usually from the citizens are “What have they done for us back home to question our decision here?” “What impact is the UBCAA having on our lives?” “There is an old exemplum that says “You put your mouth where your money is?”
Since the ascendency of Mr. Caimon Joe Kollie as President of the UBCAA, the narrative of the organization is now making far-reaching on the lives of the citizens in Bong. Mr. Caimon Kollie initially served the Bong County community in the US for more than 20 years, in various supporting roles.
Under his leadership as President, (a role he has held for less than two years), he secured an office space for the organization in Bong County (first of its kind since the organization was founded), runs a community learning and training center in Gbarnga, the UBCAA home and economic skills development program, providing educational opportunities for several young people in Bong county, the UBCAA computer literacy program, supporting women empowerment program, caters to disadvantaged groups and people in need, providing supports to effected communities during disaster, and engage with stakeholders to foster and advance development in the county
As a testament to the above mentioned achievements of President Caimon Joe Kollie, a few days ago, United Bong Citizens Association in the Americas (UBCAA) Liberia program in partnership with the Association of Career Development, (ACD) graduated forty-one rural women from its Home Economic skills development program in Sanoyea town, Sanoyea District, lower Bong County.
The graduating women were graduated after successfully going through four months of intensive tailoring training in Sanoyea.
Serving as keynote speaker during the graduation ceremony, Bong County Health Officer, Dr. Cynthia Blapooh cautioned the graduates to continuously practice what they have acquired from the past four months.
“Women, the only way our husbands and other family members will stop looking down on you is when you equally contribute to any financial burden in the home; don’t waste what you have learned “, the Bong CHO cautioned the gathered women and girls who were graduating.
Madam Blapooh told the graduating women and young girls to respectfully resist whatever that may want to stand in their way to achieving greater things.
“As you leave to survive on what you have learned, I plead with you to respectfully resist the things that may want to stop you from learning and moving forward”. Madam Blapooh averred. ” Talk to everyone-especially your spouse with respect, don’t make him feel overlooked in the home, this is the only way you will achieve big-big things”, the former C. B. Dunbar Medical Director told her “friends”.
In conclusion, Madam Blapooh hailed the UBCAA and its partners for their positive role play in the elimination of female dependency syndrome in the home.
“Today, I want to say to UBCAA and its partners thank you for helping our women to be economically empowered, this is a milestone that only God can pay you for, thank you plenty!” Madam Blapooh concluded.
Before then, UBCAA Liberia’s Strategic Program Manager, Charles Fernandez Kellen in a special remark on behalf of President Caimon Joe Kollie and the UBCAA’s Board of Directors thanked the women for their willingness to learn and the courage to complete the program.
“Yes, we can talk to the UBCAA Big man, your son from Gbamokollie ta, Caimon Kollie to talk to some of his friends and other Bong County Citizens in America who have an interest in making you able to help your home to help provide opportunities, but when they come, people must be willing to accept them, the UBCAA sees this act on the part of Sanoyea women as people who are willing to change their community, on behalf of President Kollie and team, we want to say we are ever indebted to you, thank you, plenty!” Mr. Kellen especially appreciated the women and girls.
Mr. Kellen ended by announcing that graduates will be split into cooperatives and startup kits will be provided and distributed amongst them to enable them “start from somewhere”
” We are not just graduating to leave you like that, after this graduation, with the help of our trainers, you will form cooperatives (small, small, groups) so that we can be able to give you something to start with”, the UBCAA Strategic Planner said.
In special remarks, a Chief of Sanoyea Chiefdom, Chief Noah Giddings applauded UBCAA and ACD for helping to end ” the no food money war” in our communities.
” UBCAA, I want to let you and your partners know that you have brought peace to the home, thank you for joining the fight to end ” the no food money war in our country”, the expressive local chief expressed happily during the graduation exercise.
” Thank you for making our women and young girls have a say concerning finance and investment in the home”, Chief Giddings concluded.
For their part, the student representative of the graduating class lauded UBCAA and its partners for leaving a positive indelible mark on their existence.
Sarah Flomo President of the graduating class thanked the non-profit humanitarian organization for opening a “New Door” in our lives when we thought we would never have such opportunities, we are truly grateful”
“May God continue to bless the hands that are spending their hard-earned money to make us able to feel our families” Miss Flomo concluded.
During the program, the Executive Director of ACD, Mr. Morris Kamara awarded two scholarship slots to the first top two of the graduating class.
Mr. Kamara said the move is part of his association’s drive to making women professionals in cloth sewing. The unmanned two beneficiaries will benefit from ACD’s training, cost of training, and whatsoever, free of charge for two years.
The program brought together local citizens, chiefs and women leaders, youth, and children from Sanoyea town and its environs.
It was held at the Multipurpose Crime Watch Youth Center in Sanoyea.
The organization is making significant progress and having direct impacts on the lives of citizens in Bong County. It has become visible and a key stakeholder to the development and forward of their common patrimony- Bong.