Women for positive actions ( WOPA)

I am Catherine Kollie Gbidi an entrepreneur and a human’s rights advocate and Executive Director of women for positive actions who has worked in the private and CSO space in Liberia for more than 15 years plus. I started my my journey as a volunteer on the university campus as head for the women forum sponsored by Action Aid Liberia. I headed the forum of 50 young women and girls by mentoring them and collaborating with Action Aid train and built their capacities. Through my mentorship the group received other training (Computer, understanding elections and democracy, women rights from the U.S Embassy near Monrovia. When started Women For Positive actions (WOPA), my first initiative was When Ebola hit Liberia, I gathered few women and girls in the community led total safety approach partnered with the Ministries of Health to get the virus out of Liberia specifically matadi community. Catherine led actions to support inclusive electoral processes by collaborating with National Elections Commission to ensure that ordinarily marginalized groups were duly informed about the electoral calendar and process leading up to the 2017 Presidential and General Elections. With limited support Catherine and her CSO conducted awareness raising processes in 6 of Liberia’s 14 counties. I am have led many projects from UN Agencies, Development partners, INGOs and Government line ministries and Agencies. I have also a participated many trainings, workshops and conferences both national and International. Since 2016, I and my organization have trained about 3,789 women and girls from 6 counties in computer skills, soap making, catering, decoration and leadership training. All women who participate in WOPA’s skills building program are incorporated into peer circles to ensure they have viable support system post training. I was a member of the CSO Coalition that lobbied for the passage of the passage of the Domestic Violence Bill and played a critical role is developing the SGBV road map. I joined the national taskforce to fight Corona (COVID) in Liberia, through our organization in the communities and schools, market places, clinics and street corners in partnership with the Ministries of Gender, Health, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, and the Wash Commission to carry out awareness and the distribution of Various buckets, masks, detergents, and chlorides in a total of 5 communities. I am also led a project supported by WPHF through our organization and participated in the Global Women Forum held in Germany who served as one of the rapporteurs . Mission WOPA aims to inspire, equip, and empower Women and girls to overcome hardships and create real change in their communities and lives. To effect positive change in the lives of women, girls and children across Liberia through collaboration, service projects, mentorship, and advocacy in order to uplift and empower women and girls. Vision Our vision is to reduce poverty in the lives of women and girls and to help them [overcome societal challenges] and [realize their ability to create societal impact and improve their lives].