Former female ex-fighters will now benefit from a US $20,000 grant from the United Nations Peace-Building Support Office in Liberia (UNOL) for projects aimed at giving them vocational skills in such areas as tailoring, basket making and computer literacy, a UN official told IRIN on Friday.
The former fighters, ranging from 13 to 20 years old, have been asking for help to be reintegrated into society after a seven-year civil war. The grant has been channeled through the Ex-combatants Commission headed by First Lady Jewel Howard-Taylor and will also be used to renovate the Young Women's Christian Association building in Monrovia, 'The News', a city newspaper, reported. The building will accommodate 60 street-and less-fortunate girls in the country, it said.
In a related development, 'The News' said, the Bassa Community Academy, which is being renovated by Libya at the cost of US $100,000, will be officially opened on Tuesday by President Charles Taylor. The school - which presently offers up to sixth grade instruction - will provide free tuition, books and bags for about 300 pupils.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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