Forty-five women from Kamara Town never imagined that they could collectively manage thousands of dollars or own such wealth as a group. In Kpo-River, rural Montserrado County, a seed capital of $2,000 USD in 2025 launched the community’s first Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA). Within the first year, the women raised 769,655 Liberian Dollars, equivalent to $4,205 USD—more than double the initial seed money provided by ActionAid and SIDA.
The introduction of the VSLA in Kamara Town marked more than just a savings initiative. It became a transformative program that enabled women to take control of their economic futures while abandoning harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The women reported that participation in the VSLA increased their confidence, improved their financial independence, and allowed them to educate their children and address other pressing needs.
Mary Scott, Kamara Town General Town Chief, highlighted that through the VSLA, children who were previously out of school are now attending, and women have gained empowerment through small-scale trading and business activities. Vivian Kamukai, a beneficiary, described how the VSLA changed her life, enabling her to save money and provide for her family, creating a stark contrast with the hardships she faced before joining.
The success of the VSLA was made possible through the support of ActionAid Liberia, the Just and Equal Community (JEC) Project, and funding from SIDA. For decades, FGM had been a deeply entrenched tradition in Kamara Town, functioning as both a harmful cultural practice and a source of income for women practitioners. Recognizing that ending FGM required sustainable alternatives, ActionAid Liberia, in partnership with the Liberia Women Empowerment Network (LIWEN), introduced the VSLA model to provide women with dignified economic opportunities.
The initiative brought together 49 women, many former FGM practitioners, who began to build financial resilience through collective savings, small loans, and shared accountability. As a result, 60 percent of the women who previously practiced FGM have transitioned to income-generating activities supported by the VSLA, including petty trading, farming, and small-scale businesses. ActionAid Liberia’s Country Director, Elizabeth Johnson, praised the women for doubling their initial investment and emphasized that the VSLA model could be replicated across other communities to maximize impact.
The financial success of the VSLA has also strengthened community solidarity and collective decision-making among women. Nearly half of the participants are single mothers, and their earnings have positively affected not only their own lives but also those of their children and the broader community. The JEC Project focuses on promoting justice, equality, and human rights, addressing the social norms, poverty, and lack of economic options that sustain harmful practices like FGM.
Beyond economic gains, the VSLA has fostered awareness of women’s rights, health, and the long-term consequences of FGM. It has shown that when women are provided with viable financial alternatives, meaningful social change is possible. Kamara Town’s first VSLA has become a symbol of hope and progress, demonstrating that communities can preserve cultural identity while abandoning practices that harm women and girls.
As the women continue to grow their savings and businesses, their journey illustrates the transformative power of targeted empowerment initiatives. Through the JEC Project, ActionAid Liberia and its partners are not only supporting livelihoods but also helping communities write a new narrative rooted in equality, opportunity, and sustainable change.
