Lofa County – The Superintendent of Lofa County, Hon. J. Lavelah Massaquoi, during a Security Council and County Peace Mechanism meeting hailed Plan International Liberia (PIL) for the peace-building for the “Girls and Young Women Take Action for Peace Project” in the county.
The meeting aims to inform county-based peace-building actors and security council about the project closure, after a two years of activities implementation in Lofa county specifically in Yeala and Konia Peace Hut Communities and three other counties of Liberia.
Superintendent Massaquoi also acknowledged the contributions of PIL to Lofa County through a successful implementation of the Project and the management of Konia and Yeala Peace Huts. The superintendent stated that his administration has considered about including security and peace-building initiatives into the county development budget, citing the importance of security in preventing and preserving enduring peace.
However, he urged the council’s leadership, which is made up of well-known locals, to remain independent of foreign groups and to always be available to address the county’s insecurity and peace challenges.
“We will not depend on NGO always. We should always be prepared to help ourselves even when NGOs are helping us, knowing they will go one day,” Massaquoi added.
In separate statements, the Lofa County Security Council’s representation praised Plan International Liberia’s work in Lofa and claimed that the organization’s peace-building programs and other development initiatives had reduced youth and county-wide violence.
Speaking as well, the heads of the Association of Persons with Disabilities, Lofa County Marketing Association, and Civil Society Organizations’ Network commended Plan International Liberia for sponsoring the county peacebuilding mechanism coordinating sessions.
They reported that when Plan International Liberia began interacting with stakeholders for the county’s Girls and Young Women Take Action for Peace initiative, the council was resurrected. However, they suggested extending the project to give the council more time to get ready for donor departure.
The UN Peace-building Fund and WOSI were commended by the Council for their collaboration with Plan International Liberia in order to guarantee the project’s effective execution in the nation.
PlL, via WOSI, supported the Lofa County Peace-building Mechanism Operations as part of the project activities. The council and community-based peace-building organizations, such as the Konia and Yeala Peace Hut Women, have been able to create synergies.
Plan International Liberia’s Sponsorship Project Officer for the Lofa office, Sidiki Kamara, utilized the meeting to update the county superintendent and peace-building actors on Plan International Liberia’s Child Sponsorship initiatives as well as other community development infrastructures, such as schools and restrooms, that the organization has built in Lofa County. Plan International Liberia’s involvement in Lofa, according to Sidiki, spans important development areas and includes a close partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection’s county office.
The UN Peace-building Fund (UNPBF) funds the two-year Girls and Young Women Take Action for Peace project, which aims to connect young people—particularly girls—with existing peace-building structures at the levels of the project counties of interventions, such as Bong, Nimba, Montserrado, and Lofa, while also encouraging their active participation in peace-building initiatives and leadership.
Thus far, the initiative has achieved notable progress and influenced several young women and girls, men and boys, and Peace Hut ladies in the neighborhood.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
