The LANYI Foundation, in collaboration with the Tzu Chi Foundation, has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering women and girls in Bo, Sierra Leone.
The project, which was inaugurated with a moving tribute to the late CEO of LANYI Foundation, Mrs. Philomena Yumkella, is set to provide training and support in eco-friendly pad production and tailoring skills, with the goal of fostering economic independence and sustainable livelihoods for women and girls in the region.
In his opening statement, Joshua Hindolo Vandy, Programs Manager of LANYI Foundation, highlighted the vision of Mrs. Philomena Yumkella, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment.
He outlined the dual focus of the project, which includes training women and girls to produce eco-friendly pads as a sustainable alternative to disposable ones, and equipping them with tailoring skills to create and sell clothes.
Vandy encouraged the beneficiaries to dedicate themselves to the training, assuring them that startup kits would be provided upon completion to enhance their value and contribution to national development.
Representing the Tzu Chi Foundation, Margaret Bassie underscored the organization’s belief in women’s empowerment and expressed support for the project’s implementation in Bo.
She emphasized the project’s core objectives, including skills development, financial literacy, and the provision of startup kits to ensure sustainability for the participants.
Madam Kadiatu Fillie, Manager in Charge of Growth Center, Bo, shared her inspiring journey as a disabled woman who has overcome challenges to achieve success.
She urged the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity and take their training seriously, offering her support in selling their products and emphasizing the potential for increased income through dedication to the tailoring work.
Councillor Lilian Hawa Idriss and Councillor Musu Haja Gevao of the Bo City Council expressed their enthusiasm for the waste management aspect of the project and commended the initiative for empowering women and girls in the community.
Dr. Yumkella Yumkella, Executive Director of LANYI Foundation, expressed gratitude to the Partnering to Serve Humanity and Tzu Chi Foundation for their support in making the project a reality.
He paid tribute to his late wife, Mrs. Philomena Yumkella, highlighting her dedication to humanitarian causes and her instrumental role in distributing and producing reusable sanitary pads for vulnerable women and girls.
Dr. Yumkella urged the beneficiaries to approach the training with passion and commitment, emphasizing that their efforts would honor his wife’s legacy and contribute to solving challenges faced by women in the community.
Following the keynote speeches, Dr. Yumkella led the stakeholders and beneficiaries to the training room, where he personally tested the equipment and officially declared the project launched.
The LANYI Foundation’s initiative, supported by the Tzu Chi Foundation, represents a significant step towards empowering women and girls in Bo, providing them with the skills and resources to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the community’s development.
The project’s comprehensive approach to skills development, financial literacy, and sustainability sets a promising path for the economic empowerment of women and girls in the region.
