Sustainable Livelihoods for Women in Liberia

Dear Donors,

Thank you for your generous support for this project, Sustainable Livelihoods for Women in Liberia! We would like to share some updates from this initiative. 

The Liberian Youth Biodiversity Network (LYBN), our grassroots partners based in Bonla, Liberia, recently completed the first phase: community engagement! They held a roundtable discussion with 20 local women to discuss the causes and effects of wildlife trade and bushmeat hunting for the local community and its surrounding environment. They discussed environmentally friendly livelihood alternatives as a way to mitigate harm to wildlife. The women learned about the importance of environmental conservation, especially for local endangered species such as the pangolin, duiker, and the western chimpanzee. 

LYBN also completed a local school visit, engaging 50 kids in environmental education and succeeding in establishing a conservation club! Through this visit, they cultivated positive relationships between students and their environment, paving the way for a new generation of environmentally conscious young people. 

These initiatives laid the foundation for the next phase of the project: training in skills such as beekeeping, shea butter production, and other artisan crafts that will support opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and protect endangered habitats in Liberia, as well as the establishment of a network for reporting harmful hunting practices. 

Thank you so much for your donations which have facilitated this work! Your gifts have a wider impact than you know– not only are we protecting endangered species and habitats, but we are also empowering young people to take control of their futures and follow their dreams.

With gratitude,

The Women for Conservation Team.