Empowerment Squared, Mastercard Foundation Launch ‘Harnessing Opportunities’ to Promote Entrepreneurship for 200 Liberians

MONROVIA- Canadian-Based Charity Empowerment Squared in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, as part of an effort to improve entrepreneurship in Liberia, has launched the Harnessing Opportunities to Promote Entrepreneurship (HOPE) development program in Liberia.

By Francis G. Boayue

The program was launched over the weekend, with an aim to support local partners and communities in Liberia to empower 200 economically and socially disadvantaged Liberians aged 18-35 through digital literacy, financial literacy, entrepreneurship skills, and as well providing counseling and seed funds to support their self-employment.

Mr. Leo Lekpele Nupolu Johnson, the head of Empowerment Squared, speaking during the launch of the program, said the Harnessing Opportunities to Promote Entrepreneurship (HOPE) program will focus on basic financial literacy skills for Liberians between the ages 18-35 to connect their commercial abilities into self-income generation with a time bound.

“The program will be providing direct training for 70% women and 30 % men and following the training, the program will be mobilizing direct resources for investment in Liberia’s business ventures. We intend to do this because over time, we have been looking at the Liberian economy and what can be done to improve local businesses in Liberia from the informal and formal sector with a growth mentality to transform their businesses from table-market to owning a shop,” Mr. Leo Lekpele Nupolu Johnson said.

Also speaking, Madam Tukus Ama Harris, member of Empowerment Squared, said the program with support from Mastercard Foundation has come to open the minds of Liberian entrepreneurs on how to start small and soar great without thinking about government jobs because the government cannot provide jobs for everyone.

In remarks, Paul Allison, a beneficiary of the program’s first cycle, expressed thanks to Empowerment Squared for teaching them customer service and other things that they have used to enhance their business skills.

According to Allison, through the program, he has been able to acquire knowledge in running a business and ways to expand in business ventures which has helped him earn vocational training in air-conditioner installation as an added value to his business sojourn.