By: Emmanuel Koffa| Grand Kru County Correspondent
Barclayville, Grand Kru County-Tuesday, June 17, 2025-The Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH) has joined forces with the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), as a means of pioneering effort to amplify the voices of women and girls in politics.
According to the team, the project is supported by Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) through UN Women and the European Union.
Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH) and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) ended a joint inception meetings with several women including students, market women, school administrators, Local county officials to align on responsibilities, activities, and reporting protocols, including adherence to a shared Code of Conduct; which followed by a community entry process in southeastern counties and Montserrado to build trust, inform communities, and generate buy-in.
Together, they have initiated a robust engagement strategy focused on increasing women’s participation in political leadership through the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) program in four Counties including Montserrado, Maryland, Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties.
Marthaline Boimah, Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH) representative said, the project seeks to increase women’s and girls’ participation in political and decision-making processes by transforming harmful gender norms, strengthening civil society organizations, and facilitating intergenerational learning and advocacy platforms.
She emphasized that a baseline study will be conducted to understand the current attitudes and perceptions toward women’s leadership, which will inform the strategy and provide benchmarks to track progress.
The Organization for Women and Children ORWOCH will then issue a national call for young women to apply to the “Raise the Bar” Young Leaders Program, which will deliver transformative leadership training. Following this, AWLN will offer mentorship to the trained young women through its network of experienced leaders.
According to both Marthaline Boimah and Dennis Blessing Dennis, five women-led civil society organizations including LGBTQI- and disability-inclusive groups will receive technical, financial, and advocacy capacity-building support to enable them to mobilize, advocate, and monitor public policies through (ORWOCH) PASS Women Accountability Room.
They believed that to address harmful social norms, AWLN will convene influential male allies at national and local levels to engage in media campaigns and awareness activities; noted that a national study on social norms and masculinities will be conducted to guide these efforts.
The project will close with an intergenerational retreat bringing together all actors to reflect, connect, and strategize for sustainability.
Also speaking, Denise Blessing Denise said that this innovative project aims to create a significant impact on women’s and girls’ involvement in political and decision-making processes across the nation.
Denise is quoted as saying; by addressing and transforming harmful gender norms that have historically marginalized women, the WYDE program seeks to establish a more equitable political landscape.
According to her, through ORWOCH and AWLN the project aims to empower women and girls, providing them with the tools necessary to challenge stereotypes and participate meaningfully in governance.
“The underrepresentation of women in politics is not just a women’s issue; it’s a societal issue that affects us all,” stated Denise B. Denise during a field trip in Barclayville. “The WYDE program is designed to not only increase the number of women in leadership positions, but also to foster an environment where their contributions are valued and respected.”
She noted that key component of the WYDE program is the strengthening of civil society organizations to play a more active role in advocating for gender equality as ORWOCH and AWLN intend to create a sustainable model of support for women aspiring to enter politics.
Speaking in separate remarks, both Denise Blessing Denise and Marthaline Boimah maintained that workshops, training sessions, and resource distribution will equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the political landscape effectively.
They pointed out that Intergenerational learning and advocacy platforms are another essential element of the initiative; highlighting that the program seeks to create opportunities for collaboration between seasoned female leaders and young women, facilitating mentorship and knowledge transfer.
“It is crucial for young women to learn from those who have paved the way for them,” emphasized Marthaline Boimah and Denise Blessing Denise “Sharing experiences and strategies will help cultivate the next generation of female leaders.”
As part of the implementation strategy in Grand Kru County, series of awareness campaigns have begun, reaching out to several women and girls in rural and urban settings, ensuring that the message of empowerment and participation resonates widely.
They highlighted that in line with their objectives, ORWOCH and AWLN are also committed to fostering dialogue around policy changes that will support women’s political involvement.
This includes advocating for legislative reforms that facilitate equitable representation and create a more favorable environment for female candidates.
Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita |Editor-In-Chief
