Rural women in Lofa County, Liberia, have expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for empowering them through the Spotlight Initiative 2.0. The program has provided opportunities in snail farming, rice production, tie-dye production, and adult literacy, equipping them with practical skills to improve their livelihoods. The women made the commendation when Gender Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie visited Voinjama City as part of her ongoing county assessment tour.
The beneficiaries described the minister's visit as a rare opportunity to meet her face-to-face and share their experiences, while expressing appreciation for the ministry's efforts to improve the lives of rural women. During the visit, local women's agricultural groups showcased their locally produced goods, including a product called Bengadee, demonstrating how they are using available empowerment opportunities to strengthen their economic activities.
Makaimai Konneh, a beneficiary of the initiative, said the program had transformed her life, particularly by improving her literacy and business management skills. Before participating in the program, she could neither write nor recognize her name, numbers, or signs on documents. However, she said the adult literacy training had equipped her with the ability to identify and write her name and numbers.
Konneh also said the program had educated women on the proper procedures for cross-border trade, encouraging them to comply with government regulations rather than resort to unofficial channels or shortcuts when traveling to purchase goods. The knowledge and skills acquired through the initiative have also changed how her family and community members perceive her.
Weedor Jallah, another beneficiary, said the initiative had positively affected her life and those of other women through livelihood training, agricultural activities, and economic empowerment. Jallah said she could now identify numbers, write and spell her name, and manage her business more effectively. She praised the government for prioritizing rural women in its national development agenda.
Lofa County Gender Coordinator Winifred Willie highlighted improvements at the ministry's county office and progress made in supporting women and vulnerable groups. Willie said the ministry had strengthened staff capacity through national and international training opportunities, provided equipment to improve operational efficiency, and offered financial support to survivors of gender-based violence.
Minister Horace-Kollie encouraged beneficiaries of the Spotlight Initiative 2.0 to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them and use the skills acquired to improve their lives. She urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the support provided through the ministry and take ownership of projects in their communities to ensure their sustainability beyond the period of direct support.
Key points
- The Spotlight Initiative 2.0 has improved the literacy, business management skills, and livelihoods of rural women in Lofa County, Liberia.
- The initiative has provided opportunities in snail farming, rice production, tie-dye production, and adult literacy, equipping women with practical skills to improve their livelihoods.
- Minister Horace-Kollie urged beneficiaries to take ownership of projects in their communities to ensure their sustainability beyond the period of direct support.
