CJPS, BftW, Partnering to Transform Barriers and Enhance Skills through Girls Empowerment in Bong County

Story: Emmanuel S. King, Jr.

“What we have learned over the past few weeks will bring peace to our various homes. For years, we have believed that men were the dominating partner in the home, but this training has dispelled that ideology.”

Trainees of the Girls Empowerment Project Father’s School – in Gbarnga, Bong County

This was Alvin Doekpah, one of 75 participants of the Center for Justice and Peace Studies –CJPS, Civil Peace Service- Bread for the World-BftW – Girls Empowerment Project. Alvin along with 74 others underwent five cycles of training to support women, enhance their skills for decision making and support themselves and their homes; enabling young men to become supportive to their spouses and children; while also making them equitable partners to their wives.”

Providing a background to the project, Francis S. Koryon, Program Manager of the CJPS said, the Girls Empowerment Project began in 2019 in five schools, as a pilot project, and the project is now being implemented in fourteen schools in Bong and Margibi Counties, teaching students to understand their schools’ handbook and code of conduct; awareness on the prevention of STIs, teenage and unwanted pregnancies; and working with mothers through the conduct of quarterly community dialogue sessions.

According to Mr. Konyon, the program also brings together men to dialogue and share best practices, enhancing their skills to become active parent, more equitable partners, and agents of change in their homes and communities.

The Gender Coordinator of Bong County, Joe E. Smith during his motivational message to the graduates, called on them to use the lessons learned from the training, as their success stories, noting: “As you graduate from this program, you must now begin to help your wives and children in your homes.

Dr. Alfredson Taikerweyah making remarks

In special remarks, Dr. Alfredson Taikerweyah, Associate Professor at Cuttington University lauded the Center for Justice and Peace Studies and the Civil Peace Service, Bread for the World-BftW for an excellent program aimed at transforming barriers & enhancing skills through the Girls Empowerment Project. He informed the graduates that as fathers, they are supporters to their children, and the mother is the owner.

CJPS Executive Director, Joseph D. Howard making remarks in Gbarnga, Bong County

“Show your wives, spouses and children that loves is in the home, and anything that makes your home not to be at peace, remove it.” The CJPS Executive Director concluded.

Seventy five men received certificates totaling 150 men from Kakata and Gbarnga (75 per county), out of 288 men who were trained under the Girls Empowerment Program for this circle.

Trainees in Gbarnga, Bong County

The Center for Justice and Peace Studies is a partner organization of the Civil Peace Service, Bread for the World Partners. CJPS is a youth focused development organization with head office in Bong County and sub-offices in Montserrado and Nimba Counties. Since 2002, CJPS has worked extensively in supporting peaceful co-existence among community members, promoting youth participation in decision making processes being the pioneer in establishing the first youth Secretariat in Liberia, supporting the establishment and strengthening of community forest management bodies, and creating awareness on policies and best practices that enhance co-existence and sustainable development in rural Liberia.

Trainees in Gbarnga, Bong County

A participant receives his certificate following completion of the training

The Civil Peace Service – CPS is a German funded program aiming at preventing violence and promoting peace in crisis zones and conflict regions. CPS professionals in more than 40 countries support people on the ground in their commitment for dialogue, human rights, and peace on a long-term basis. The goals of the Civil Peace Service Liberia country program are: Marginalized groups are integrated to reduce fragmentation of society and natural resources are utilized for the general public, and at a local level, a dialogue is pursued between the population and the state.

Contacts CJPS @

Joseph D. Howard

Executive Director

Specialist in: Peace and Development Education

Email: josephhoward.cjps@gmail.com

Cell #s: +231 886 526 151 / +231 770 103 528

WhatsApp. +231 886 526 151