PAYOWI On Scholarship Program, Others

Some young Liberian women under the banner Paramount Young Women Initiative (PAYOWI) on Saturday gathered at the Airfield Sport Pitch, where they carried on a car washing exercise to generate funds for the organization’s scholarship program.

According to the Executive Director of PAYOWI, Miss Kula V. Fofana, the organization intends to add 20 girls to its scholarship list. Besides providing scholarships for 20 girls, Miss Fofana said funds realized from the exercise will also be used to purchase office equipment.

Miss Fofana, who appealed to the public to support the initiative, disclosed that PAYOWI plans to generate more funds in a bid to put additional girls in school. When asked for some of the reasons girls are out of school, she said they cannot afford to pay their school fees.

However, she said this is why PAYOWI is helping some of those who cannot afford to pay their school fees.

The PAYOWI Executive Director pointed out that government is not in the position to send everyone to school, adding “we, as concerned and determined Liberians, need to design some plans that will help us move on before government can reach to our desire.”

Serving as chief launcher of the exercise, Youth and Sports Minister, Etmonia D. Tarpeh, admonished her fellow Liberians to cultivate the culture of self initiative and stop waiting for government to do everything for them.

She further admonished her compatriots to first help themselves before government can help them. Although she acknowledged that government needs to do things, she maintained Liberians need to take the lead in helping themselves.

The Youth and Sports Minister, who lauded the exercise by PAYOWI), underscored the need to support such initiative. But Minister Tarpeh observed that putting these girls in school is step one and keeping them in school is another thing.

Minister Tarpeh further observed: “Sometimes, you pay some people school fees and after few months, you hear from the administration that the students were absent for about two weeks now.”

According to her, she cannot understand why some young people hold the notion that they can make it in this world without education.

However, she expressed the hope that the girls who will be added on the PAYOWI Scholarship would make maximum of the initiative for a better tomorrow.

Also speaking, Mr. John J. Weah, a resident of District #9, Montserrado County praised the initiative by PAYOWI.

“I am also running such initiative, but I am involved with young men. We have students on our scholarships at the various universities and high schools in Monrovia, Mr. Weah said.

He said his organization is hoping to work with PAYOWI. Asked if the was any motive, he remarked: “I am ready to take any position the young people will ask me to serve as leader for them.”

According to him, he said political ambition, adding it is time that the youths of this country be part of the decision making body.

For his part, Mr. George Kailondo, who also graced the event, said it was great to see girls putting shame aside to work for themselves.

“Now I can say that each Liberian understand the power of education, they are engaged into some positive activities to help their friends get in and stay in school,” Mr. Kailondo said.

He then pledged PAWOYI one car washing machine upon his return from China.