Accra, Ghana: May 19, 2019: The SHEROES Foundation’s 2019 Humanitarian Award Winner, First Lady Clar Marie Weah, has expressed deep gratitude to the international women based organization for recognizing her many humanitarian initiatives in Liberia.
Speaking at the SHEROES Awards Ceremonies on Friday, May 17, 2019, in Accra-Ghana, Mrs. Weah said she was grateful to have been selected for such a great honor.
“I’m so grateful for the award,” said the Liberian First Lady in her acceptance speech, as she stood on the stage with other awardees including former Mauritius President Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. The award that I have received, I dedicate it, sincerely from the bottom of my heart to all the hard working underprivileged women and children of Liberia. These are the women whose shoulders I am standing on today,” she asserted.
A dispatch from Accra, Ghana, quotes the SHEROES citation for Mrs. Weah as saying that the Liberian First Lady was awarded “In recognition of your many outstanding contributions to the development and the welfare of women and children in the Republic of Liberia.”
Mrs. Weah, however, said while she welcomed the recognition, she was not complacent with the level of accomplishments, as it has been about one and a half years now since becoming First Lady, stressing that there were more to be done.
Mrs. Weah then informed the huge gathering of her many humanitarian initiatives, all of which are aimed at improving the lives of the underprivileged people of Liberia.
The initiatives include the full renovation of several orphanages and schools; the provision of food and non-food supplies to orphanages and the elderly feeding program which provides assorted food rations to Liberia’s senior citizens on the last Thursday of each month.
She also named the ongoing construction of a 30-bedroom residential facility through her foundation (Clar Hope Foundation) for the elderly and physically challenged, and the pending launch of the She’s You Movement, a national advocacy campaign aimed at empowering women and building a better Liberia.
The recruitment of 30 Liberian girls for advanced training in industrial hair production in China through her Women and Girls’ Empowerment Project and the pending construction of the City of Hope to educate, rehabilitate and transform disadvantaged children, youth, street girls and women among others were also mentioned.
According to the Liberian First Lady, her decision to undertake such programs was based on the pressing need to help and make a positive impact on the lives of Liberians.
“When I became First Lady, I did not want to sit behind the desk and be the pretty first lady. I told my people that I want to go the orphanages and the old folk’s homes because I wanted to see how they are living,” she said.
As a result of such interventions, orphans at many orphanages along with elderly people are now briefing a sigh of relief.
Mrs. Weah assured that she will continue to work harder in lifting the less fortunate Liberians out of poverty thereby supporting her husband, President George Manneh Weah, and his government’s Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.
In a brief statement, the Founder and Executive Director of the SHEROES Foundation, Flossy T. Menson told the Liberian First Lady that her tremendous work, humility, and dedication to humanity were outstanding.
The SHEROES Awards Gala, which was part of the eighth International SHEROES Forum, took place at the Labadi Beach Hotel under the theme: “Setting New Paradigms for Women’s Leadership in Africa.”
The Liberian First Lady was among several dignitaries awarded for their distinguished achievements in their respective fields.
They include former Mauritius President, Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare- Chief of Staff of the Republic of Ghana, Madam Uche Ofodile- Chief Executive Officer of Lonestar-MTN Liberia.
Others are former Nigerian Presidential Candidate, Dr. Oby Ezewesili and Madam Karen Akiwumi-Tanoh, Board Chairperson First Atlantic Bank Ghana among others.
Past recipients of the SHEROES Awards also include the Liberian President and Vice President George Manneh Weah and Hon. Jewel Howard-Taylor, Nigerian Vice President Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, Former Vice President of Zimbabwe Dr. Joice Mujuru and Nigerian Senator Binta Masi Garba among others.
Convened by the SHEROES Foundation, the forum bring female leaders of diverse achievements from across the world to share their experiences, expertise, and vision thus bringing new perspectives to key issues facing women.
