Through the Economic Opportunities Program, the International Rescue Committee provides seed money to women who had been victims of Liberia's 14-year civil war. The IRC trains them in a skill or trade and then gives them money to begin their own businesses to support their families.
This is the tailoring program run through the IRC’s Ganta office in Nimba County, Liberia.
The IRC runs a similar program to teach the skill of embroidery. These are students training in Comfort’s Embroidery School.
In Ganta and elsewhere around Liberia, the IRC runs tie-dye training so women can create and then sell their own fabric designs.
Selling homemade tie-dyes around town; each piece of fabric they sell for around $10 (U.S.).
These four women pooled together their money to open the Productive Guest Salon after receiving training and start-up funding through the IRC. They charge $4 (U.S.) for each full braid.
Hair “fixing” is detailed work.
This is Mamie who, with four other women, runs the United Women Empowerment Piggery with start-up help from the IRC. Each of these four widows lost their husbands in the war. However, this piggery enables them to sell 6 pigs each year which is enough money to feed themselves and their children.
Another part of IRC's Liberia programs are the Women's Action Groups (WAG) which support women, many of whom have been raped or are victims of other forms of gender-based violence (GBV).
These groups meet weekly in communities and unite to protect each other and other women if there is an instance of GBV. They also vow to take action against a perpetrator of a GBV crime. Rape has just become illegal in Liberia and these women are serious about making sure the law is upheld.
Men have started to get involved in the groups; these young men (all in their 20s) are part of the Ganta Women's Action Group.
Most ads in Liberia are public service announcements sponsored by non-profit organizations. This IRC outdoor billboard in Monrovia raises awareness of gender-based violence.
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