The five-year program seeks to empower over 40,000 girls and young women with education and other basic skills.

The launch of the program took place over the weekend in the Conference room of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) in Monrovia.

The National Coordinator of Plan Liberia, at the ceremony, disclosed that the program also seeks to protect girls against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and to make post-primary education accessible to them.

Madam Beatrice Newland, said civil society organizations in the country would, amon g other things, be strengthened in the implementation of the program in Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount and Lofa counties.

According to her, the program would also center on socio-economic empowerment of girls and young women.

It would also be used to increase the participation of girls in the political process of the country.

The program had as its Theme: “Equal Rights and Opportunities for Girls and Young Women.”

It is being supported by the Dutch Child Rights Alliance and the Liberian Country Steering Committee.

Plan Liberia, ANPPCAN/Liberia, DCI/Liberia, and FAWE/Liberia are partnering in the implementation of the program.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the acting deputy minister for Administration-designate for the Ministry of Health and Social welfare (MOH/SW), Vivian Cherue, assured FAWE-Liberia of the Ministry’s support for the program.

For her part, the chairperson of FAWE-Liberia, Dr. D. Everlyn Kandakai, commended the National Coordinator of FAWE, Madam Winifred Deline, for “the launch of the project.

Dr. Kandakai who is also vice president for academic affairs of the United Methodist University (UMU) in Monrovia expressed the hope that many girls and young woman would make good use of the program.

The ceremony was also attended by paramount and town chiefs, students, youth and women groups, among others.