INCREASED WOMEN AND GIRLS VULNERABLITY AS A RESULT OF EBOLA IN LOFA COUNTY, LIBERIA

WHY?Lofa County, located in the

north of Liberia, bordering Guinea and Sierra Leone is one of the worst Ebola affected counties in Liberia. The uncontrollable migration of people from Guinea and Sierra Leone to Liberia through Lofa made combating the virus very difficult.

SOCIAL ISSUES

Increased in the number of Widows ( with no accurate statistic from County Health team)

Increased in the number of Orphans ( No support for Orphans-the the two functional orphanages have been closed due to lack of support)

Child Headed Household

PROBLEMS FACING WOMEN AND GIRILS

Increased Poverty ( Businesses where abandoned as public gatherings were banned as a means of containing the virus).

Sexual Exploitation ( Girls- Exchange of sex for help )

Stigma and Psychological distress ( Widow and orphan girls are seeing less important while others families and individual are accused of being the importer of the virus).

THEIR SOURCE LIVELIHOOOD

What I am doing as MWF?

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Strengthen the capacity of local existing community structures to take the lead in identifying and responding to community social issues.

What I am doing as MWF?

Social Mobilization: Creating awareness on EVD, Trainings Provision of health and sanitation kits to less affordable homes, public places and distant and marginalized communities

PROPOSE SOLUTION

Strengthened Economic status of Vulnerable Women (Widows, Single mothers) and Girls (Orphans and Child headed household) in Ebola Affected Communities; reduce stress and Violence against .

THROUGH ? Practical/ Vocational

training for affected women and girls.

learn quick skills such as soap making, tie & die, baking, embroidery, hair dressing etc. to enable then earn income to support them and their children/sibling.

THROUGH ? Income

Generative Activities ( Seed Money and Business training) for women and girls struggling with small business..

THROUGH ? Village Saving Loan Association

( VSLA): Training of village women on illiterate financial record keeping for saving and credit union.

Sustainability strategy

Incorporate other vulnerable women and girls of the same category into their business after meeting their saving goal.

THANKS