“We Believe in You” World Bank Country Manager Tells LWEP Beneficiaries in Zannah Town
September 26, 2025
By Laymah Kollie
Zannah Town, Rural Montserrado: The dusty paths of Zannah Town came alive as the World Bank Country Manager in Liberia, Georgia Wallen, visted with beneficiaries of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP).
Addressing a crowd of women entrepreneurs, Madam Wallen stressed the central role of women in national growth. “When you invest in women, you invest in the future of the country,” she told the gathering. “Liberia rising requires Liberian women. So women, we are proud of you. We believe in you, and this is just the beginning.”
She praised the women’s determination to build businesses, keep records, and seize opportunities. But she also offered a reminder: “This money is from taxpayers, and it is for Liberians to thrive. Use it with integrity. Invest, grow, and then invest in the next generation—the children. They are going to lift Liberia.” Beneficiaries:
From Struggle to Hope for the women of Zannah Town, the Liberia Women Empowerment Project represents not just funds, but dignity restored. Oretha Q. Turkolon, Chairperson- God is with us Village Saving Association narrated her experience on the LWEP “Our money is not for selling labor. The purpose of the money is to make business.
They trained us on record keeping and how to use the money well. So we want to thank the Ministry of Gender and our partners for helping women.” Another beneficiary, Madame Fatu Konneh spoke through tears of her long struggle: “Me and my husband, we’ve been suffering.
People laughed at us and said World Bank was lying, that we’d never get money. But today, I tell God thank you, and I tell World Bank thank you. If I’m happy, I can cry. Because Liberia women, so many women, we were disgraced. But this project took the disgrace from us.”
From small traders to women managing associations of over 100 members, the testimonies were united in one theme: the project has opened doors that were once unimaginable.
Partners: A Shared Commitment Implementing partners, including Plan International, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), ActionAid, and Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI), expressed their gratitude and underscored the importance of collaboration. Country Representative of the Catholic Relief Services Glynnis Cummings -John remarked: “You have made Liberian women count. You have made them visible. The success stories we’ve heard today are not the work of one organization.
It’s because of effective collaboration. One year, two years from now, we want to see your businesses still standing strong.” ActionAid’s Proram Manager, Victoria Koiquah echoed the message of responsibility: “Today is excitement for receiving the money, but the real success story will come one year from now.
Please use this money with honesty and integrity. Corruption doesn’t only happen in government it can happen in our homes, in our communities. This project must be about trust.” At the same time, Ibrahim Kamarh, Head of Programs at Plan International concluded: “Listening to your experiences, it’s exciting to see how powerful women are when they stand out.
Be the change that you want. Your investment today must also empower others. Invest so your children will grow and come back to support Liberia.” A Movement of Women Leading Liberia’s Future The visit ended in chants of joy, prayers of gratitude, and renewed determination. For Zannah Town and beyond, the Liberia Women Empowerment Project is more than aid- it is a movement. A movement of women determined to rise, transform their families, and lift their nation. As one woman declared: “Women are women! We are winning!”
