LIBERIA: Beneficiaries in Grand Gedeh Extol Oxfam Ebola Recovery Program
By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – Some of the four thousand, one hundred and forty seven beneficiaries of Oxfam Ebola Recovery Program in Grand Gedeh County have extolled the entity for initiating such Project in their County, following the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak.
Emmanuel Krayee, a farmer of Duogee, Grand Gedeh County weeding grass
The Program by Oxfam in Grand Gedeh County is focusing on the restoration of livelihood and building resilience of vulnerable communities after the outbreak of the Ebola virus which affected all sectors of the Country.
Grand Gedeh, Nimba and River Gee Counties are currently benefiting from Oxfam Ebola Recovery Program.
Several of the beneficiaries who spoke to WASH Reporters in the ten communities in two Districts in Grand Gedeh, said the Program by Oxfam had imparted their lives tremendously, looking at their current status in the post Ebola period in Liberia.
The Oxfam Ebola Recovery Program is focusing on four thematic areas which include Cash For Work (CFW), Unconditional Cash (UC), Women Saving Groups (WSG) and Farmers (F).
Women Saving Group Box Keeper, Marie Worjloh in Duogee, Gbarzon District, Grand Gedeh County
In Gboleken and Beezon of Tchien District, three hundred and eighteen people under the four categories are benefiting, while the remaining targeted beneficiaries are from Zleh, Duogee, Tian, Bargblo, Tojillah, Polar, Jarwodee and Gaye of Gbarzon District.
The Farm Chairman in Beezon, Bue Teoh and a female farmer, Cecelia Gaudy, where thirty three acres are being cultivated said: “The program of Oxfam in this area is really helpful to us and called on the Organization to continue it”.
Another female farmer, Esther Nayou said: “The Cash for Work by Oxfam has given me the opportunity to use it to extend my farm and pay my children school fees”.
For Mrs. Rebecca Teoh who is the Secretary for the Women Saving Group in Beezon said the one thousand, five hundred United States dollars from Oxfam will be used to empower them. “We are indeed grateful to this group of people who have seem the need to help us to do something for ourselves as women” she added.
Oxfam Project officer of Grand Gedeh County, Gibson Doe on one of the farms
Also a beneficiary of the Unconditional Cash, 70-year old Richard Karleh said: “I just want to tell God thanks for Oxfam to give me that amount of money without working for it. Look at my condition, what can I do again? I give some to my wife to make business to be helping the home and use some to buy medicine and send my grandchildren to school”.
For her part, the Head for God Will Do It Saving Club, Elizabeth Barh indicated that the fund Oxfam has given them will help in buttressing their Club which has been operating over the past two years.
“This money will be distributed among the over fifty members to empower them more, through whatsoever business they can engage and the returns will be put back to keep the Club going”, Mrs. Barh pointed out.
In Duogee Community, Gbarzon District, the Box Keeper for the Women Saving Group, “Help Yourself”, Marie Worjloh said what Oxfam has done is exceptional for women in the area that will enable them to support their homes by helping their husbands.
“We are not going to use the money among ourselves to cook plenty food or buy lots of lappers, but it will be used to better our lives by selling as well as engaging in farming activities as other women are involved in currently”, Madam Worjloh, emphasized.
For her part, an 80-year old lady, Ruth Borbor, another beneficiary under the Unconditional Cash in Duogee, standing amazed said: “Let God Almighty bless those people who are helping me. Nothing I can do for myself as you can see”.
Ruth Borbor, unconditional Cash beneficiary in Duogee, Grand Gedeh
Another beneficiary, Mr. Emmanuel Krayee, who has cultivated eight pilots in Duogee said: “the Cash for Work is a good Program because it is helping to reduce hunger in the community, noting that: as you know this rice is not for Oxfam, it is for ourselves and then the people are paying us again for our own farm”. He described Oxfam’s Initiative as very impressive and helpful.
Other Group of beneficiaries in Tain, Gbarzon District, including K. Steward Barjibo, Mary Quawea and James Seton under the Unconditional Cash and Women Saving Club respectively, said the Initiative by Oxfam will go a long way in helping them. They appealed to Oxfam to extend similar Program to other communities to assist the residents.
Meanwhile, Oxfam Program Officer in Grand Gedeh County, Gibson Doe, told the Media following the tour of some sites, that the Program was to reawaken the broken hopes of people who the Ebola affected in many ways.
Cash for work farm in Beezon, Tchien District , Grand Gedeh County
“Some of those people were selling and farming, and others were depending on relatives and children as their means for survival, but the outbreak of the Ebola virus has caused them a major setback and that the coming in of Oxfam will help to rejuvenate their livelihoods” Mr. Doe asserted.
Under the Oxfam Ebola Recovery Program, Mr. Doe disclosed that the various Women Saving Groups are given one thousand, five hundred United States dollars, while each beneficiary for the Cash for Work and Unconditional Cash received one hundred and fifty United States dollars, respectively.
He said the Program which started early this year in Grand Gedeh County is going on smoothly as the beneficiaries are cooperating, and called on them to make good use of the Project to improve and empower themselves,..perhaps this opportunity may not come their way again.
