Rivercess County, Liberia: — Former Public Works Minister Ruth Coker Collins has launched a comprehensive community empowerment initiative in the Wheasaye Clan aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment, strengthening local businesses, and enhancing youth engagement across several towns in Rivercess County.
The three-day intervention brought together more than 150 women from 12 communities for intensive training under the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) model.
The program is designed to help women improve and grow their local businesses through structured savings, access to small loans, and improved financial management practices.
The training focused on financial literacy, small enterprise development, structured savings, and cooperative lending, with the goal of strengthening household incomes and supporting sustainable community-based businesses.
“When women are empowered with skills and access to opportunity, they don’t just support their households they transform entire communities.”
Participants described the program as practical and impactful, saying it has equipped them with the skills needed to expand their businesses, manage their finances better, and achieve greater financial independence, particularly in rural communities where access to formal banking services remains limited.
In parallel, the initiative also included youth-focused activities such as football and kickball tournaments involving six towns.
Coker said the sporting events were intended to promote peacebuilding, strengthen community ties, and encourage positive youth engagement, while also creating space for talent development and social interaction.
Local leaders and stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely contribution to grassroots development. They noted that combining women’s economic empowerment with youth engagement reflects a balanced and inclusive approach to addressing community needs.
The program aligns with key development priorities in Rivercess County, including:
Expanding economic opportunities for women and improving local businesses
Strengthening community cohesion
Increasing youth participation in constructive activities
Promoting inclusive, community-driven development
The initiative reflects a practical, results-oriented approach to development with direct impact on livelihoods at the community level.
According to Ruth Coker Collins, the initiative is expected to serve as a model for scalable, community-based development across other parts of the county.
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