Neezuin Town, Rivercess County – The Ruth Coker-Collins Foundation has graduated another group of women under its Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) program, aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment in rural communities.
The second cycle graduation ceremony was held over the weekend in Neezuin Town, Kilometer 85, Central C District, Rivercess County. The event brought together more than 700 women beneficiaries, chiefs, elders, traditional leaders, and citizens from surrounding communities.
Speaking at the program, Christina Rogers of the United Women Village Savings Club in Darsaw Town provided an overview of the initiative’s achievements and impact. She emphasized that the VSLA program is designed to empower women by enabling them to pool their resources, save collectively, and access small loans to invest in businesses or address household needs.
“This initiative is creating opportunities for women to build their own capital and support each other to grow financially. Women who could not afford to buy a cup of rice before can now take a loan to start small businesses, pay their children’s school fees, and improve their living conditions,” Ms. Rogers explained.
During the ceremony, special honors were awarded to groups that generated the highest amount of savings and interest throughout the cycle. The Kamugah group emerged as the top saver, producing a total of one million, one hundred and ninety-six thousand Liberian dollars. The group received a certificate recognizing their hard work and dedication to the program.
Representatives of various groups expressed their appreciation to Madam Ruth Coker-Collins, CEO of the Foundation, for her continued support to women in the county. They called on her to sustain her impactful work, noting that the VSLA program has transformed the lives of many women who were previously unable to access any form of credit or savings support.
In her closing remarks, Madam Coker-Collins encouraged the women to remain united and continue using their resources wisely.
She reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to supporting women’s economic empowerment initiatives across Rivercess and beyond.
The Village Savings and Loan Association model is widely used in rural Liberia as a means of enhancing financial inclusion, particularly for women who are excluded from formal banking systems due to poverty, illiteracy, and lack of collateral.
