The Inquirer (Monrovia)
4 August 2008
A non- governmental organization, the Women Aid Society (WAS), headed by Liberian female musical star, Tokay Tomah has stepped up its efforts in the fight against sexual exploitation and abuse against women in two Liberian counties.
WAS reactivation comes against the backdrop of a visit paid to the country by Women's Campaign International (WCI), to carry out a need assessment for the purpose of implementing parts of its program in Liberia with the aim of catering to the community and women.
According to a statement from WAS, the assessment shows that WAS was one of the few local partners that could work with WCI in leading the campaign against GBV and SEA, thus paving the way for WCI to select the organization as its partner in Liberia to implement the projects.
The Women and Aid Society is implementing the projects in the Northern and Central Liberian counties of Bomi and Bong.
According to a statement released in Monrovia under the signature of the group's Acting Executive Director, Tokay Tomah, under the project, WAS would sensitize development workers, local leaders, leaders of youth and women groups, teachers, traditional leaders among others on the danger of sexual exploitation along with GBV, mainstream with peace building.
The objective of the project is intended to raise awareness about GBV, SEA among the targeted communities in the two counties.
The statement said that predicate upon the desires of the organization to raise the necessary awareness, it had held two separate workshops in Klay District, Bomi County and Salala District in Bong County respectively.
These workshops were held under the theme, "Taking the Message Serious." According to the statement, the first phase of the project had to do with training peer educators so that they may help reach out to other community members who were not part of the training to educate them on issues of GBV and SEA issues.
The statement added that there was a follow up on the materials that were presented at the training workshops so as to refresh the minds of the beneficiaries or participants.
The statement disclosed that on July 22, this year, a delegation from the Women's Campaign International (WCI), visited the project sites in the township of Zordee, Klay District, Bomi County, to ascertain from them as to how things have gone since the beginning of the project activities in the area.
According to the statement, the second phase of the project would reach out to community members in the districts through a door-to-door approach and the hosting of sports activities to help strengthen and expand the message on sexual exploitation and abuse.
Meanwhile, the Acting Executive Director of WAS, Madam Tokay Tomah says the organization has been reactivated to provide meaningful service to the Liberian people and is urging all individuals of goodwill to support the work of the organization.
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