Joint Programme on “AcceleratingProgress towards the EconomicEmpowerment of Rural Women”(RWEE)

Success stories from participatingcountries: Liberia

Success stories: Liberia“As a leader for my farming group based in Worhn, Margibi County, I had problemsleading the other women and also managing our farming activities. These activitiesprovided us with produce for us to sell in the market and let us get money to take careof ourselves and our children”, says Mari Kpadeh. “There were many times that somemembers of the group complained that the group was not succeeding because I wasthem poorly. This made me feel that I was a failure and also made me feel so very sadbecause I have always loved to lead, and I know that I could lead the women. Istruggled each day with the fear that other strong women within the group would seemy leadership fail because I was not fit to lead them. The truth is I had a seriousproblem with having confidence in myself. I was shy and felt I was not able to lead. Iquestioned my self-respect and the respect of the group. It was a really bad time for meat that time.”

For months the farming group had a hard time in selling its produce and getting enoughmoney from due to poor management. According to Mari, “In May of 2015, I was amongthe leaders of the different farming groups that received a training for 5 days on howwe could better organize ourselves and to also know how to better lead our differentgroups that were doing farming in the community”.

She continues, “Now as a leader for my group “Arbleejay”, I have better understanding ofhow to organize and lead my group. I am better than before at managing the group andleading them. The group has noticed that our agriculture activities are getting better andwe are making a little more than what we use to make. I am sure that by the end of theyear we will do better because some other people from WFP said they will support us withmore trainings and with agriculture supplies like seeds and farming tools.”

She concluded by saying, “Let me say that before my participation in the OrganizationalDevelopment and leadership skills training, I used to have problems managing my group.Now, I am able to better manage them and have found favor from the women as agood leader.”