By Jacqueline Dennis
KAKATA – The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has begun distributing livelihood support materials to women affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), as part of the three-year Liberia Fight FGM Project, funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.
The initiative aims to provide economic alternatives for former FGM practitioners, survivors, and single mothers in six counties — Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Bong, Margibi, Bomi, and Gbarpolu. Distributed items include farming tools, baking supplies, soap-making materials, and small business kits, intended to help women create sustainable income streams and reduce reliance on harmful traditional practices.
“Ending FGM takes more than laws — it takes real opportunities for women,” said Esther S. Davis Yango, Executive Director of WONGOSOL, at the official launch in Kakata, Margibi County. “These tools represent freedom and a new start for many families.”
The project engages 44 communities nationwide, focusing on empowerment, education, and advocacy to achieve the permanent abandonment of FGM.
The launch follows Liberia’s historic announcement of a permanent FGM ban by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. at the United Nations General Assembly. WONGOSOL’s efforts are seen as essential in translating the ban into tangible change at the community level.
Also attending the event, Margibi County District #3 Representative and Chair of the Women’s Legislative Caucus, Hon. Ellen Attoh Wreh, urged beneficiaries to use the resources responsibly. “This is not a political gift,” she stated. “Use these materials wisely, to uplift yourselves and create lasting change for your families and communities.”
Wreh praised WONGOSOL and the UN Trust Fund for their support and pledged to monitor the initiative closely, encouraging community leaders to champion education for girls over harmful traditional practices.
Beneficiaries at the event expressed deep gratitude. One single mother shared, “I used to struggle to find food and pay school fees. Now I have a way to provide for my family. This project has changed everything for me.”
WONGOSOL also acknowledged UN Women Liberia for supporting awareness campaigns and resource mobilization efforts to end violence and discrimination against women and girls.
Since its founding in 1998, WONGOSOL has coordinated over 250 women-led organizations across Liberia, promoting gender equality, amplifying women’s voices, and advancing inclusive governance.
