By Adama Whyte Conteh
Women’s empowerment is a powerful movement that aims to create equal opportunities, rights, and representation for women in all spheres of life. It recognizes the inherent value and potential of women and seeks to eliminate the barriers that hinder their progress.
The Falaba District Women’s Network, as part of its effort at empowering women by helping them start or expand small businesses, enabling them to become financially independent and self-reliant, has distributed business grants to members of the Women’s Action Group (WAG), mentors, and older out-of-school adolescent girls (OSG) in Serekolia, Tumania and Kombili in Morifindugu Chiefdom, and Ganya and Simithia in Kabelia Chiefdom Falaba District.
The Director of the Falaba District Women’s Network, Mrs. Fatmata B. Turay, explained that the grants were made possible through funding from Irish Aid, facilitated by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as part of the Adolescent Girls Empowerment and Protection Project Phase 2.
Mrs. Fatmata emphasized that women in Falaba District face significant marginalization, with many of them serving as the primary providers for their families. The business grants, she said, aim to improve the financial well-being of these women and equip them to contribute more effectively to their households and communities.
She revealed that they have partnered with Growth Center Bo to provide skills training for 50 out-of-school older adolescent girls. This six-month program includes training in tailoring, masonry (such as building toilets, tiles, and Roman pillars), handicraft, weaving, and cake baking. Skilled trainers have been enlisted to provide high-quality instruction, ensuring that participants gain practical, employable skills.
During the distribution ceremony, Mr. Momodu Samura, Project Manager of the Falaba District Women’s Network, urged the grant recipients to use the funds wisely and avoid any misuse. He also noted that supervisors will be assigned to monitor their progress and ensure proper use of the grants.
He reiterated that the donors’ focus is on empowering women to become financially self-sufficient and active contributors to their communities.
He thanked the beneficiaries for their participation and encouraged them to promptly seek guidance or support whenever needed. Both Mrs. Fatmata and Mr. Samura expressed their gratitude to Irish Aid for its continued support in empowering women and girls in Falaba District.
The Falaba District Women’s Network, a civil society organization advocating for women’s rights, also focuses on equipping women with the necessary skills to succeed in business.
Women’s empowerment is the process of enabling women to have control over their lives, make their own decisions, and access opportunities and resources that were previously inaccessible to them. It involves promoting women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others, which the organization wants to achieve for the women of Falaba District. It is important to note that empowering women is crucial for achieving sustainable development and creating a more prosperous and inclusive world.
