The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Center for Women and Development
Liberia Support Program
The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (EJS Center) inaugurated its local grants program, the Liberia Support Program (LSP), in 2022. The Liberia Support Program is an initiative designed to support women-led and women-focused organizations providing education, health, technology, financial inclusion and other social services that benefit local communities in Liberia.
The Liberia Support Program conducted an open call for applications. After intense vetting the Center allocated funds to three organizations: Healing Liberia Foundation, FACE Africa, and Girls In Tech Liberia. These organizations were selected for their commitment to improving the lives of women and girls in Liberia.
Overall, the Liberia Support Program directly benefited 629 individuals and indirectly influenced the lives of 3,145 individuals in 2022.
In 2023, the EJS Center continued the Liberia Support Program. The Center extended its relationship with Girls in Tech Liberia by providing a 26,000 United States Dollars grant to train an additional 150 women in Digital Marketing.
In 2024, the Liberia Support Program is on course to greatly expand. Encouraged by the resounding success, the EJS Center looks forward to awarding future community grants and continuing its successful collaborative relationship with its partners and beneficiaries.
The ripple effects of this initiative have been overwhelmingly positive, ushering in improvements in health, sanitation, education and employment opportunities for women and girls in the targeted communities in Liberia.
Special thanks and appreciation to the Funders, African Women Development Fund, MasterCard Foundation, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Dr. Jendayi Frazer who made this support program a success.
Healing Africa
Healing Liberia Foundation deployed the funds to provide medical interventions for 61 critically ill patients, including 43 who received life changing surgeries, and who are now leading healthier and less burdensome lives. As a result of the grant funding, the organization was able to surpass its goal of aiding 200 patients by its two-year anniversary, saving twice as many lives as initially anticipated. Healing Liberia Foundation was also able to expand its operations to reach some of Liberia’s most vulnerable patients, who live in rural areas without access to proper medical care. Healing Liberia Foundation continues to see the patients treated through monthly check-ins to monitor outcomes.
FACE Africa
FACE Africa harnessed the funds received to build water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in hard-to-reach areas and conducted sanitation training in Jaster Town, Rivercess County, in Liberia. Effects of the intervention include improved health outcomes, especially for women, children, and infants. Having access to clean water has considerably reduced the risk of mortality and water-borne illness, and a local school has reported a drop in student absenteeism by at least 40%, indicating fewer students are missing out on their education due to falling ill. The local medical clinic has also seen a notable reduction in cases of diarrheal diseases, malaria, and worms, allowing the clinic staff to devote more time to maternal health care, infant vaccinations, and health education.
Girls in Tech
Girls In Tech Liberia (GITL) utilized the funds received to equip young women with essential technology skills. The organization trained 110 women in Microsoft Office and QuickBooks, with over half of these trainees successfully securing employment post-training. By equipping young women with enhanced computer literacy and digital skills, the training has been transformative for many, opening up job opportunities and fostering financial independence and self-reliance. The funding has also propelled GITL’s mission forward, providing a mini-computer lab that supports its ambitious goal of training 10,000 women and girls in Liberia by 2030.