By Vaye Abel Lepolu
In a direct effort to combat elderly poverty and social neglect, the Christian non-profit Word of Life International (WLI) distributed essential Christmas supplies to thirty-five older residents in the Pipeline Road, Bassa Town Community of Paynesville.
The donation, carried out through WLI’s Ageing Project, provided each beneficiary with a 25kg bag of rice, cooking oil, vitamins, and transportation money. The initiative aims to demonstrate love, provide material support, and advocate for greater government attention to the welfare of Liberia’s elderly population.
During the presentation, Ms. Rebecca KG. Nyamndo, Support Coordinator for the WLI Ageing Project, stated the gesture continues the organization’s commitment to its old-folks project. “It is our vision and aspiration to see old-folks healthy and excited,” Nyamndo said.
She revealed plans to significantly expand the program’s reach, aiming to increase beneficiaries from 35 to 500 across Liberia’s fifteen counties and into neighboring countries. The long-term goal includes establishing safe homes for the elderly, particularly those who are physically challenged.
“The donation today is done through our Chief Executive Officer, who has this great innovation of seeing the elderly excited through humanitarian gesture since the launch of the project on October 20, 2022,” Nyamndo added, extending the CEO’s Christmas wishes and noting ambitions to expand operations to Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Senior Pastor and National Overseer of WLI, Rev. Anderson F. Vanwen, and Program Manager Mr. Augustine K. Ndorbor urged beneficiaries to maintain faith and health awareness. “Please talk to your children to keep off the streets this season,” they advised, highlighting safety concerns.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Aloysius Tokpa offered prayers and thanks for the support. “His continuous love has strengthened hope and inspired life into us,” Tokpa said. “We will talk to our children to keep off the streets, and we are keeping our environment clean while WLI helps us with medical examination.”
Established in 1998 and accredited as an International NGO by the Liberian government, WLI obtained United Nations Consultative Status in 2018.
