A three-day interactive session and training for building confidence, strengthening capacity for full participation in the work of Liberia’s Christian Association of the Blind (CAB), has been convened at the association’s resource center along the Robertsfield Highway, outside Monrovia.
“The session, hosted by the Christian Association of the Blind, focused on ways toward combating sexual assault, domestic violence and abuse among women with visual impairment in Liberia,” stated CAB National President/CEO, Sir. Beyan G. Kota during the official opening of the training exercises on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
According to Kota, topics brainstormed at the session held under the theme, “Know Your Part, Do Your Part”, include pre-questionnaires on confidence building; building the confidence of women for participation in issues affecting women despite their disability; the role of the government, civil society organizations (CSOs) communities; building the confidence of women for participation in alleviating issues affecting women despite their disability; and the role of the government, CSOs and communities.
At the training session, Emma Metieh Glassco, Director of NAFAA, drilled the thirty-eight (38) participants from CAB chapters from eight of the fifteen (15) counties in Liberia on building the confidence of women for full participation in alleviating issues affecting women and how to overcome challenges despite their disability.
Lisa Diasay, Program Coordinator, Women’s TV/Liberia, also presented a paper on building the confidence of women on how to overcome challenges despite their disability. Teaching on soap production (lecture and practical) was Oretha Bao, resident in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, and teaching on pastry (baking skills) was Mercy W. Gaigaie, Montserrado County.
Earlier on, Rosanna Schaack, Representative, district #1, Rivercess County, in her keynote address encouraged the women to challenge the issues that confront all women, such as traditional practices and political attitude which tend to keep women at the bottom of society.
Representative Schaack, a member of the House Finance/Development Committee of the Budget and Gender/Social Protection and people with disability also entreated women with visual impairment to begin to stand up for their rights and acquire the requisite skills if they are to withstand future challenges in Liberia, yea the world.
For his part, the CAB boss, Sir Beyan G. Kota, frowned at some statutes being enacted by the National Legislature which fail to address the plight of the partially sighted, people with disability, in Liberia as the nation yarns for transformation.
He emphasized the need for women of CAB to have access to financing for economic development.
Kota also called for budgetary support for CAB. He said he regrets that government’s subsidy to the organization has not been forthcoming, lest to mention the failure of Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah, to include an allotment in the national budget for the association.