The Spotlight Initiative 2.0, implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has been making a positive impact in Gbelekpala, Bong County. Beneficiaries of the programme have expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge and skills to improve their livelihoods. The project, titled Empowering Women to End Violence in Liberia, focuses on strengthening women's knowledge and skills while promoting their economic empowerment.
During a recent visit by Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Gbeme Horace-Kollie, beneficiaries shared their experiences and explained how the initiative is helping them acquire practical knowledge and skills. Community leaders welcomed the Minister, describing her visit as a rare and encouraging experience that demonstrated the government's commitment to engaging directly with rural residents. The visit provided beneficiaries with an opportunity to discuss issues affecting their lives with the Minister.
The Spotlight Initiative 2.0 uses a seven-module learning approach designed to equip women with practical knowledge and skills that can improve their daily lives. The modules cover literacy and numeracy, business education, savings and loan associations, vocational skills, and digital learning, among other areas. According to Boakia Yamah, Field Officer of the Spotlight Initiative 2.0, participants had progressed to the fifth module, which focuses on digital learning.
The programme also provides a second chance for women and other adults who missed the opportunity to acquire basic education earlier in life. Participants are learning to identify letters and numbers, write their names, sign documents, read simple sentences, and recognize common signs in public places. The programme introduces participants to business management, savings practices, and vocational training to help them strengthen their livelihoods and improve their economic independence.
To make the training more accessible, organizers established additional learning sessions in Bangasiri after discovering that some beneficiaries lived outside the initially selected communities. Facilitators currently conduct training sessions on Fridays and Saturdays to accommodate participants from different communities. Beneficiaries have celebrated improved literacy and economic skills, with many sharing their experiences and expressing gratitude for the programme.
Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie emphasized that the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 is a government-led programme supported by the European Union (EU), with funding channelled through the United Nations (UN). The Minister stressed that government ownership is essential to ensuring the programme's continuation after external funding ends. She urged project officers and community stakeholders to ensure that the programme's activities continue beyond the current funding period.
The Spotlight Initiative 2.0 seeks to support efforts to address violence against women while promoting women's empowerment and expanding opportunities for women at the community level. The initiative's long-term success will depend on effective coordination, community participation, and the government's commitment to sustaining the programme. The Minister plans to organize beneficiaries into Better Savings Groups to strengthen their savings practices and improve their access to financial opportunities.
Key points
- The Spotlight Initiative 2.0 has improved the literacy, business management knowledge, and vocational skills of beneficiaries in Bong County, Liberia.
- The programme provides a second chance for women and other adults to acquire basic education and economic skills.
- The government is committed to sustaining the programme beyond the current funding period, with plans to organize beneficiaries into Better Savings Groups.
