MONROVIA, LIBERIA — The Liberia Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE Inc.) has successfully concluded the Girls Empowerment Camp 2026, a four-day empowerment and learning initiative held from August 27-30, 2026, bringing together young female footballers for an experience designed to strengthen their knowledge, confidence, leadership abilities and life skills.
Organized under LIFE Inc.’s Football 4 Development Plan, the camp promoted the idea that football can serve as a powerful vehicle for education, personal development, leadership and social empowerment. Participants were exposed to sessions covering human rights, gender equality, menstrual health, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), technology, education, personal development and opportunities beyond football.
Opening the camp, LIFE Inc. Executive Director and Founder Madam Jodie Reid Seton urged the young footballers to take full advantage of the opportunity provided to them. She emphasized that the camp should not be viewed simply as another football activity, but as an opportunity for the participants to learn, grow, build confidence and discover possibilities for their future beyond the sporting field.
Veteran technology professional and CAF Match Commissioner Mr. Ivan G. Brown challenged the participants to begin preparing early for life after football. He stressed the importance of education, technology and professional development, encouraging the girls to recognize that a successful football career can be complemented by other skills and qualifications that will serve them throughout their lives. Renowned women’s and children’s advocate and Country Director of Kvinna till Kvinna, Madam Korto Reeves Williams, also engaged the girls on gender equality and empowerment, emphasizing that creating an empowered generation of young women requires the active participation of everyone.
The camp also attracted support from Liberia’s creative and international communities. Liberian entertainer Diplomatic Gaza “Com Cruz” made a surprise appearance, entertaining the participants while sharing his personal experience of how football has provided motivation and inspiration in his own life. On Day Two, Madam Joyce Laykah Kilikpo, Executive Director of Public Health Initiative Liberia, led discussions on menstrual health, puberty, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and hygiene, helping participants better understand their bodies and the importance of good health practices to their wellbeing and performance as athletes.
A major highlight of the second day was a visit by British Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Paul Richard Simister, who expressed his support for the initiative and encouraged the young footballers to remain committed to their dreams. Reflecting on his personal connection to sports, Ambassador Simister explained that his interest in supporting football grew stronger after his daughter began playing the sport. He praised the girls for their enthusiasm, discipline and commitment and commended LIFE Inc. for creating a platform that combines football with education and empowerment.
Human rights and the use of football as a tool for personal and professional advancement took center stage on Day Three, when Mr. Christian Mukosa, Country Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Liberia, joined the participants. Mr. Mukosa not only interacted with the girls during an on-field football activity but also engaged them in discussions about their empowerment canvases and placards, asking participants to explain the messages and ideas reflected in their creative work.
In his presentation, “How to Use Football to Achieve Your Goals,” Mr. Mukosa encouraged the girls to view football as more than a game, describing it as a pathway to discipline, leadership, education, personal development and the achievement of their dreams. He also assessed the participants’ understanding of human rights policies previously taught by Mr. Nyanway, with the girls demonstrating confidence and knowledge in their responses. Mr. Mukosa commended LIFE Inc. for organizing the initiative and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to support the camp as a sponsor and partner.
The successful conclusion of the Girls Empowerment Camp 2026 reinforces LIFE Inc.’s commitment to using football as a platform for the holistic development of girls and young women in Liberia. The initiative demonstrated the value of combining sports with education, health, technology, human rights and gender advocacy to prepare young female athletes not only for success on the football pitch but also for leadership and productive lives beyond sport.
A major outcome of the 2026 camp was confirmation that the next edition, Girls Empowerment Camp 2.0, has been approved. LIFE Inc. intends to build on the achievements and lessons of this year’s program by continuing to create safe and empowering spaces where young female footballers can acquire knowledge, develop leadership skills, build confidence and explore opportunities for their future. The organization looks forward to working with partners and stakeholders to ensure that more girls are given the opportunity to learn, lead, dream and achieve—both on and off the football pitch.
About LIFE Inc.
The Liberia Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE Inc.) is committed to advancing the empowerment and development of young people in Liberia through innovative programs that promote education, sports, leadership, health, human rights and personal development. Through its Football 4 Development Plan, LIFE Inc. uses football as a platform to equip young people, particularly girls and young women, with the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to their communities and achieve their aspirations.
