The national coordinator of the Southeastern Women Development Association (SEWODA) of Harper City, Maryland County, Helena Torh Turo, says her organization will work along with local partners and others to transform women of the region through skills development to make them more productive in their families and country.
She told reporters that her organization, with over 1,000 members, works to improve the living conditions of people, especially women and children, through advocacy, education, agriculture, peace-building, community development, and health-related programs.
“We engage our fellow women in the community in an interactive manner so we discuss and provide answers to their concerns and also make recommendations that can use to improve their situation,” she said.
Madam Turo said SEWODA gives advisory services on improved methods of agriculture to rural communities and facilitates the preparation of seeds, and multiplication processes for backyard gardens for women.
She said a tools-bank has been set up in each of the five southeastern counties (Maryland, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Sinoe, and River Gee) to provide access to farming implements and seedlings to SEWODA members.
Turo described the establishment of vocational institutions in the country as one of the major ways forward for Liberia’s growth, and meanwhile urged Liberians to turn to the soil to revamp the agriculture sector.
The organization was founded 1996 with a membership of 100 women. SEWODA has been concerned about the need for improved farm to market roads in the leeward counties to ensure food is transported to the various markets and communities for sale and consumption.