By: Julius Konton
Liberia’s Second Lady, Synleseh Stephenie Dahn Koung, will officially launch a transformative national initiative on Friday, aimed at empowering women and girls living with disabilities across the country.
The program, titled “Empower Her,” is a bold step toward inclusion and economic independence, offering free vocational training, business support, and empowerment opportunities to more than 300 women and girls with disabilities.
The initiative stems from Liberia’s first-ever National Conference on the Status of Women with Disabilities, held in March 2025, where over 600 participants gathered to discuss pressing challenges related to healthcare, education, social protection, and access to opportunities.
“In our March conference, we listened, we learned and now we are acting,” said Second Lady Koung.
“Empower Her is about more than training. It’s about dignity, opportunity, and inclusion”, she re-emphasized.
Designed to move from conversation to action, the initiative seeks to equip women with the tools and confidence to lead independent lives, despite the systemic barriers they have faced.
Madam Koung credited the program’s realization to collaborative efforts with national and international partners.
Among the special guests to grace the upcoming launching ceremony will be Ms. Hanane Ait Aissa, founder of Startup Grow Foundation in Morocco, known for her work in inclusive development.
“This initiative reflects a growing movement across Africa and beyond, one that centers the voices and rights of women with disabilities in national development agendas,” Koung added.
The Second Lady, known for her passion and advocacy for marginalized women, described the launch as “a new day” for a segment of the population that has long been overlooked.
“I believe in the power of women, no matter their physical condition. Empower Her is about renewing hope and unlocking potential that society has too often ignored,” she said.
As Liberia takes this significant step toward greater inclusivity, Empower Her marks a critical turning point not only in national policy but in the lives of hundreds of resilient women determined to shape their own futures.
