The Burphy Cares Foundation has concluded a crucial three-day needs assessment visit to Grand Cape Mount County, marking a significant step in its ongoing commitment to inclusive and community-led development within the region.
The visit, spearheaded by a team of program officers and local engagement specialists, served as a crucial fact-finding mission, identifying key areas for future intervention across vital sectors including health, education, youth empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.
The team also engaged directly with community members across Sinje, Robertsport, Madina, and surrounding areas, coupled with extensive meetings with local leaders, dedicated educators, frontline healthcare workers, vibrant women’s groups, and youth representatives.
The core of the assessment further lay in understanding the lived realities of the residents, meticulously mapping existing service gaps, and, most importantly, co-creating potential solutions directly aligned with the aspirations and needs expressed by the community.
The visionary and Executive Director of the Foundation, Richlue O. Burphy informed the media, “This visit went beyond mere data collection; it was about genuine listening, profound learning, and establishing a foundation of trust.”
Burphy, who is also the Deputy Director General for Lotto Games at the National Lottery Authority (NLA), emphasized the Foundation’s dedication, and said, “We are unequivocally committed to ensuring that our programs are deeply rooted in the voices of the people and address the unique strengths and challenges presented by each community.”
He, at the same time, expressed his gratitude to the County Superintendent’s Office, traditional leaders, and all civil society partners for their gracious welcome and collaborative spirit throughout the assessment process.
According to him, said partnership underscored his Foundation’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with local stakeholders to build a brighter and more prosperous future for Grand Cape Mount County.
Burphy further noted that the Foundation looks forward to sharing additional updates as the 2026 intervention strategy takes shape and begins to unfold, fostering tangible improvements in the lives of the residents.
Meanwhile, the assessment revealed critical findings that will guide the Foundation’s future efforts, as the team was able to identify significant hurdles, including limited access to essential maternal and child health services in the more remote areas of the county.
The Maternity Waiting Centers visited witnessed many of the pregnant women and newborn mothers who could not even afford healthy meals to take their medications, let alone afford essential materials like tissue, disinfectants, and beddings, among others.
During the assessment, infrastructure deficiencies in primary and secondary schools also emerged as a pressing concern, highlighting the pervasive challenge of high youth unemployment and the critical lack of vocational training opportunities to equip young people with crucial skills.
It was also observed during the assessment that some of the schools do not even have blackboards for the teachers to write on, while some of the buildings are dilapidated and need to be given a facelift.
A strong and enthusiastic interest in agricultural cooperatives and microenterprise support was also observed, indicating a potential for economic growth driven by the community, especially by the women of the community.
These insights will now serve as the cornerstone of the Foundation’s comprehensive intervention strategy slated for 2026, as this future strategy will further prioritize scalable initiatives that are firmly anchored within the local communities, ensuring sustainable impact.
Immediate next steps include crucial stakeholder validation workshops to ensure community buy-in, strategic partnership outreach to leverage existing resources, and the meticulous design of pilot programs to test and refine proposed solutions.
The Burphy Cares Foundation is also committed to partnering with well-meaning Liberians and goodwill individuals and institutions to help address some of these challenges and needs.
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