Women’s empowerment takes a giant step forward as over 70 women from six districts gather in Taiama of the Moyamba District to discuss peace, the economy, job creation, Ebola and the future of women in Sierra Leone. Representatives from Moyamba, Kono, Pujehun, Koinadugu, Bombali and Kailahun gathered on Wednesday, November 9th to celebrate and commiserate together.
The financial secretary of the Peace Mothers in Moyamba, Sandra Sesay, said there was some separation among women in the District. But, with the Fambul Tok initiative, many are now working cordially towards women’s empowerment.
Fambul Tok International with Catalysts for Peace helped bring women together to share experiences, wisdom and hopes for the future. Peace Mothers Coordinator of Fambul Tok International, Lillian Mosey, said, “The essence of the gathering focused on sharing ideas and reflecting views and plans for rural development. The organisation helps to enhance reconciliation.” She said, “Peace is a continuous process and it takes time to be restored especially in war and conflict affected countries.”
Mosey continued, “We build their capacity with skills learning in order to empower themselves. The only way to help women in rural communities is by empowering them with skills so that they can take care of themselves.”
Many women said they have benefitted from new skills like soap making, weaving and other skills. Some of them highlighted the significance of the soap making machines given to them by Fambul Tok International. “These skills allowed us to make money and helped to fight against Ebola in our districts and the country as a whole,” she continued.
The representative from Koinadugu, said, “With the motivation of Fambul Tok international we were able to succeed in agricultural activities. We started planting with five bags of groundnuts and we can now boast of fifty bags after harvest. We were able to get Le6.2 million immediately after the Ebola epidemic in 2015.”
A representative from Pujehun, Adama Kargbo, said they have been giving financial assistance to members of the Peace Mothers in Pujehun, for medical treatments and healthcare.
The representative from Kono told the gathering, “With the intervention of the Peace Mothers, we were able to minimize teenage pregnancy and also empower young girls with skills training. We also gave scholarships to Ebola affected children in primary schools.”
By Sidique Fofanah (Intern)
Monday November 14, 2016