Nearly 1 million Liberians live in extreme poverty and 2.5 million live in absolute poverty, says the World Bank in its 2023 poverty assessment report. According to UNICEF an estimated 15 percent of 6 –14-year-olds are not in school. Just over a third of pre-school children have access to early childhood learning & development programmes.

Living in the suburb of Monrovia, Kumassah, a mother of 4 dreamed of a better future for herself and her family. Living in an environment where opportunities are scarce, Kumassah faced several challenges that threatened to confine her to a life of poverty. However, her resilience and determination would soon find her employment and a better future.

Kumassah and her children depended on handouts, which weren’t enough to survive. With no employment and other income, saving or investing in a small business seemed impossible. Kumassah yearned to contribute more significantly to her family’s well-being and to send her children to school, but the odds seemed stacked against her.

Skills Training: A Path to Independence

In 2020, Kumassah enrolled in the SOS Children’s Village-supported family strengthening programme. The programme introduced the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) to Komassah’s community. The programme aimed to empower women like Kumassah by providing them with skills training, financial tools and knowledge needed to improve their economic situation. Kumassah eagerly joined, attending the initial meetings with a mixture of hope and skepticism.

Through VSLA, Kumassah and other caregivers learned how to pool their resources together, create shared funds, and give out small loans to members. This system not only eased the burden but also provided savings and an opportunity to invest in income-generating activities.

Through the FS Programme, Kumassah enrolled in a soap-making class – a skill that promised creativity and economic potential. Over several weeks, Kumassah learned the foundation of soap production — from selecting and mixing ingredients to molding and packaging the final products.

Armed with her new skills, Kumassah is with renewed vigor. She started small, using the modest resources she had. The community appreciated the quality and affordability of her products. 1 bottle (0.5 liters) of Kumassah’s liquid soap is sold at 200- Liberian Dollars – equivalent to 1 United States Dollar, with each sale, Kumassah reinvested her earnings to buy more and better ingredients to improve the soap giving it nice scents to be more attractive.

Today, through the soap Kumassah can provide meals and other essential school materials for her children. SOS Children’s Villages–supported FS programme didn’t just teach Kumassah and others how to make soap; it also taught her good parental skills and the tools and confidence to build a better future. Kumassah’s journey has shown that empowerment and education are the keys to breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a lasting impact.