By Rachel Saykiamien
Todee District, Montserrado County – Liberia
The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), in partnership with the Women Empowerment Program for Sustainability (WEPS), has distributed the second phase of livelihood materials to five communities in Lower Montserrado County under the Liberia Fights FGM Project.
The initiative, which is part of a broader intervention across six counties in Liberia, aims to empower women to become self-reliant and transition away from harmful traditional practices. The latest distribution took place on April 9 in Blackee Town, Todee District.
According to WONGOSOL, over 350 women, including traditional practitioners (zoes), single mothers, and survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) are benefiting from the intervention in Lower Montserrado.
The Liberia Fights FGM Project was launched in 2023, with its empowerment component introduced in October 2025. Funded by the UN Trust Fund (UNTF), the project is currently being implemented in 44 communities, providing practical tools and support to survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), former practitioners, and vulnerable women to rebuild their livelihoods.
Presenting the materials on behalf of WEPS in Blackee Town, Project Staff Hawa Fuller noted that the support was made possible through WONGOSOL with funding from UNTF. She emphasized that the initiative is intended to help women achieve economic independence and improve their living conditions.
“The materials provided will be distributed across five communities, including Careyburg, Marchee Town, and Blackee Town, where we are actively implementing the project,” Fuller stated.
The distributed items include 20 bags of caustic, five dozen gloves, 10 packs of nose masks, and five cartons of protective goggles, all aimed at supporting soap-making and other livelihood activities.
Receiving the items, Madam Maggie Freeman, a community leader from Blackee Town, highlighted the challenges women face in accessing essential materials for soap production.
“To get caustic is very expensive. We sometimes burn coal for four to five months just to raise money to buy it. This process is difficult and time-consuming,” she explained.
Freeman expressed appreciation for the support, noting that the materials are timely and will significantly improve the women’s capacity to earn income and become independent.
“This support will lift the women in our community and help us stand on our own while moving away from harmful practices,” she added.
Also speaking on behalf of WONGOSOL, Ms. Tete Weaver encouraged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the materials to improve their lives.
“We understand that many women face abuse and carry the burden of caring for their families. This second phase of support is meant to help you become independent and move away from harmful practices,” she said. “It is time to stand up for yourselves and your children.”
A beneficiary, Madam Massa Smith, expressed heartfelt gratitude, describing the intervention as life-changing.
“Today, I am independent. I make soap, sell it, and send my children to school. No man can take advantage of me anymore,” she said. “I want to thank WONGOSOL and the UN Trust Fund for this support. I am very happy.”
The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) is a national network of over 250 women-led organizations working across Liberia to promote women’s rights, empowerment, and gender equality. Established in 1998, WONGOSOL coordinates advocacy, capacity building, and community-based initiatives aimed at ending violence against women and girls and advancing inclusive development.
