Liberia: Women in Montserrado Benefit from KEEP Liberia's Village Savings Initiative

 

 

The Kids Educational Engagement Project (KEEP Liberia) has been impacting the lives of rural women, especially in the area of Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) programs.

In continuation of this initiative, the organization recently donated 1,000 United States dollars (L$ 150K) to women in Millsburg Township, rural Montserrado County.

VSLA empowers participants to increase access and control over resources and use them for collective power to overcome social and financial barriers. It is a transparent, democratic, and highly structured form of the informal savings groups found in many parts of the developing world nowadays.

The chairlady of the Millsburg VSLA women, Madam Sounyea Robert, said due to the improvement of the VSLA program through KEEP Liberia, the economic conditions of the women have improved greatly.

“We appreciate KEEP for the continuous support it provides to the women of Millsburg Township. We started with thirty (30) members with support from KEEP Liberia, but now the number has increased to 60 members,” she explained.

She further lauded KEEP Liberia and stated that the donation was timely to strengthen the new group. 

Madam Robert also narrated how KEEP Liberia has impacted the lives of many women, directly lifting them from poverty and providing them with increased disposable income to support their families. 

“With the testimonies of women about village savings, men have joined the group,” she said.

“We are not only depending on our men again for home support. While the men are providing, we are also able to contribute to the family’s income and bring something tangible as well. Thank you, KEEP Liberia, for saving us from extreme poverty. Today, our men are joining the group, and other men are coming; it is because some of us have built our houses and are sending our children to school through the VSLA with support from KEEP Liberia,” Madam Robert reiterated. 

The Program Coordinator of KEEP Liberia, madam Gloria O. R. Yaskey, said economic empowerment and Livelihood is one of KEEP’s pillars and, as a result, women they support are breaking the barriers of poverty in their homes. 

She said the amount was a commitment of KEEP’s 2022 support to VSLA groups around the country in communities. 

“Sustainability and growth are two of KEEP’s key pillars. Consequently, I was given an instruction by my Executive Director to serve in this capacity to donate this US$1,000 to the women of Millsburg Township for the purpose of village saving,” Madam Yaskey stated.

According to the KEEP Program Coordinator, the organization currently has nine village saving clubs around the country, and these women are making tremendous efforts to help their male counterparts by supporting their kids in school, supporting their homes, building houses, and helping their communities.