By: Perry B. Zordyu
MONROVIA – Liberia’s former Vice President, Jewel Howard-Taylor, has urged young Liberian women to leverage their education, embrace self-reliance, and become agents of change.
Speaking as the guest speaker at the graduation of BRAC Liberia’s second cohort of 36,000 young women, held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town on July 9, 2025, Madam Howard-Taylor called the graduates “the new generation of Liberia” and encouraged them to apply their skills and knowledge.
“The more you succeed and use what you’ve learned, the more BRAC Liberia will be motivated to support other women,” she said, emphasizing the importance of translating academic training into real-world impact. “Now is the time to make your dreams a reality.”
She also urged graduates to focus on personal growth, self-reliance, and capacity building instead of competing with others. Reflecting on her own journey, she shared: “I once considered resigning, but I realized it would discourage many young women aspiring to lead.”
Howard-Taylor praised BRAC Liberia for empowering women through entrepreneurship and access to finance. “BRAC’s contribution to youth and women in Liberia is commendable,” she added.
The graduation marked the completion of a two-year program aimed at improving the lives of 1.2 million adolescent girls and young women (ages 12–35) across seven African countries. Held under the theme “Aspire to Be, Inspire for Impact,” the initiative seeks to boost life skills, education, and self-agency.
BRAC Program Manager Alexis Keni-Keni reported that the program reached 36,000 participants through 240 clubs across 36 branches. It included value-based life skills training and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in areas like catering, tailoring, cosmetology, computer science, and more. A total of 448 participants completed TVET, while 11,684 received $135 in startup capital for small businesses—a $1.58 million investment.
BRAC CEO Dyson Mandivenga noted the program’s reach into remote areas, focusing especially on rural women, adding: “When a woman is empowered, a nation is empowered.”
Country Director Juvenalius Cyprain Kuruletera praised the graduates for their leadership and resilience. “BRAC operates in all 15 counties, working at the grassroots level to fight poverty,” he said.
Deputy Minister for Youth Development J. Bryant McGill also commended the graduates: “You’ve gained knowledge, skills, and discovered your capacity to lead. Graduation is just the beginning.”
BRAC Liberia remains committed to advancing women’s empowerment nationwide through its impactful, female-focused initiatives.
