Four local Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), including LiRWOCA, Gender Peace Net Work (GP-Net), Sustainable Development of Rural Communities (SDRC), and Raising Godly Generation, on yesterday, held an elaborate joint closing program following a successful implementation of climate change mitigation efforts in Liberia, as per their respective Term of Reference (ToR).
At separate but very salient levels, these organizations carried out awareness activities in various communities, including Tylor, Amagashie, Chicken soup and Philips Farm communities, to robustly engage in educating and motivating local communities around Montserrado County, to understand the global effects of climate change and how best to mitigate it practically.
Respectively, the project’s beneficiaries gave testimonies and expressed thanks and appreciation to the project implementors and the sponsors, including GEF and UNDP, for their support. They appreciated the education received during the lifespan of the project, thereby enabling them to grasp the importance of planting mangroves, bee growing, and snail farming, something they said is economically healthy for the nation.
They called on the UNDP to keep winding up their support because, according to them, “We are practically reaping the benefits.” They said even though the program has come to an end, they were hopeful that UNDP and the GEF will see reason to extend the life of the program, which they described as people-centered, given its practical livelihood benefits, especially at a time when self-help initiatives in the face of the climate change cannot be overemphasized.
Making remarks, Samuel Boakai, National Coordinator, GEF-Small Grant at the UNDP, highly appreciated the communities for their cooperation and understanding which led to the successful end of the 10-month program. He promised that UNDP will continue to work with the communities through the local NGOs as per its agenda. He emphasized the need to conserve the mangroves because, according to him, “our lives are tied to the mangroves.” For her part, the Project Officer, Madam Gboryonon Z.B. Williams, encouraged young people to prepare themselves for future challenges through skill trainings, saying that success often finds only those who prepare themselves.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas) which produces heat-trapping gases.
