Women Group empowered for economic sustainability

The women group in Farwentah in Liberia has found processing of parboiled rice profitable and economically empowering. ADRA has trained them to produce rice and process parboiled rice. They have signed a contract with WFP to supply rice in schools for the school feeding programme. The women attested that this project has helped them solve most of their financial needs such as improved their housing conditions, pay school fees for their children and other basic needs like medical bills.
I was happy to hear their stories. The Women president for the county and the chair lady are cheerful and hardworking women. They decided to form the group for social support and effectiveness. They each produce rice in their farms and they in turns help each other to clear the farms, weed, and harvest. They do the processing of parboiled rice together in a central facility donated by WFP. They are paid according to the individual quantity of produce at an agreed upon rate.
They also testify that this group has been a social support to them since the civil war ended in the 1990s. After the war there was no social cohesion in the community and this group has helped them discuss their problems, and helped them forgive and heal (peace and reconciliation).