By Laurina B Lormia
(Cub-Reporter)
The Save My Future Foundation (SAMFU) has partnered with the Legislative Press Pool to train journalists in reporting on crucial issues, particularly focusing on land dispute resolution across the country.
The day-long training to enhance journalists with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively cover and raise awareness about land disputes was held on Tuesday May 28, 2024, at the Jangaba Community, in Paynesville City.
Giving an overview of the workshop, the Assistant Director of Communications, Benetta Teta Bowah, said the initiative was aimed at making the institution visible to the public, highlighting the success stories and impacts it continues to make in the society.
“We have come, calling the journalists as a watchdog of our society to help push our agenda, our objectives, and our aims when it comes to SAMFU workings,” she said.
“We call for a lasting collaboration between the institution and the leadership of LEGISPOOL as well as other media practitioners from various entities to keep the public accurately updated with the institution’s developmental activities.”
The Executive Director of SAMFU, Wynston Benda-Henries, indicated that the institution’s vision seeks to have a Liberia where natural resources are efficiently governed and sustainably managed to ensure equity in benefits-sharing.
According to him, SAMFU is committed to sustaining the peace in Liberia and as well training target communities in promoting effective participation and peaceful co-existence in the extractive industry sector of Liberia.
“We educate rural dwellers how to use natural resources for the economic and social well-being of the whole community. We monitor implementation of national and international standards and best practices by multinational companies in Liberia,” he narrated.
“The mission is to support and promote environmental protection and bio-diversity conservation, and sustainable natural resource management through inclusive community participation,” he added.
The entity also conducts specialized training for coastal communities to ensure effective participation in promoting the long term survival of endangered marine species and sustained recovery of depleted stock.
He added that, SAMFU has two thematic projects, the Extractive Industry Program, among other things, which promotes inclusive management of natural and environmental resources including land and forest resources that equitably benefit rural communities, and the Endangered Marine Species Conservation Program, which focuses on endangered marine species against illegal activities in Liberia.
“The program campaigns against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities across coastal landscapes and as well protect coastal community’s local fishing folks against human rights abuses and other forms of violations,” he stressed.
He however thanked the participants especially the leadership of the Legislative Press Pool for the partnership established and urged the journalists to be engaged in developmental reporting.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of LEGISPOOL, Blamo N. Toe, on behalf of the participants, thanked the Save My Future Foundation for organizing what he termed as an insightful training for legislative reporters.
He urged the organization not to only build a partnership and after the training dash the relationship as other entities do.
