YAWC Network, Liberia Chapter holds maiden ‘Meet and Greet Forum’ in Monrovia

The YAWC Network, Liberia Chapter has held its maiden Meet and Greet Forum at the Living Stream Tabernacle, River of Life Church in Paynesville, Monrovia ahead of the 5th Young African Women Congress (YAWC) which comes off in July this year.

The event which saw the participation of over a hundred young women leaders who are both members of the YAWC Network and non members took place on 1st February, 2020 and it was under the theme, "Grassroots Mobilization for Development".

The guest speaker, Ms. Carolyn Myers Zoduah who is the Coordinator for Non State Actors Secretariat at the Ministry of Finance in Liberia admonished the young women leaders on the need to stand together with one accord for the progress of Liberia.

She stated, "Over the years, grassroots mobilization has proven to be more successful in Liberia. One example is that, a few years back, men made decisions and the country went to war but the victims were women and children. Every attempt to end the war was never successful until the women stood up and said 'Enough is Enough.

"It was a handful of women that came together and decided on something that put an end to the war. They decided to change the narrative and change how the story is being told about the civil war. One strategy they used was that, they all came together and sat on the street in protest against the civil war. Amongst them were women from different backgrounds, beliefs, regions, views, statuses, etc. They were determined in finding their space and making use of that space; because they were all in one accord and took collective actions."

The Executive Director of ExLA Group and the Lead Convenor for the Young African Women Congress (YAWC), Mr. Daniel Osei Tuffuor also encouraged the young women to be committed to the course of Liberia including fighting sexual violence which is on the ascendancy in the country in recent times. He implored them to use their chapter of the YAWC Network which is a thriving platform on the continent as an advocacy tool to put their concerns across at all times.

On her part, the Leader for the country's chapter and the Lead Convenor for the Meet and Greet Forum, Ms. Genevie Robertson noted that given the challenges confronting the young population of the country, Liberia’s continues participation and commitment to YAWC is very essential because the young women are hungry and passionate to interact and discuss critical issues pertinent to their development and contributions towards national growth.

To the surprise of many, Liberia's Chapter of the YAWC Network honoured the Leader of ExLA Group, Mr. Daniel Osei Tuffuor by presenting a beautiful hand woven smock which was made by a woman to him for his continues support and commitment to the progress of women on the continent of Africa.