-Acknowledging our staff, partners’ commitment
Established March 10, 2011, we are overwhelmed and appreciate the grace of God that has brought us this far and the impact our existence as a media institution has made, through lifting women’s voices and ensuring that their rights are protected and respected. With an uncompromising desire to ensure that the voices of women are heard, we gracefully take pride in remaining involved with it especially as we celebrate our 13th anniversary.
As we reflect on our dedicated service to amplifying the voices of women and promoting gender equality in Liberia, we would also like to recognize and applaud our staff and partners who have been instrumental in our journey towards success.
Though a lot more than this (partners) have done what they could do, these institutions and including USAID, UNDP, UN Women, Plan Liberia, Liberia Crusaders for Peace, and the Angie Brooks In- -International Centre (ABIC) for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security unique relationship can never be ignored. They have not only supported our mission but they have also played a vital role in sustaining our operations through their consistent advertisements in our newspaper.
Advertising is the lifeblood of any newspaper, and we believe they have recognized the importance of promoting their messages through WomenVoices. Their commitment to doing business with us over the years has not only helped us financially but has also strenghtened us to do more.
The support from USAID, UNDP, UN Women, Plan Liberia, Liberia Crusaders for Peace, and the Angie Brooks Foundation has significantly contributed to our growth and impacted us as a newspaper. Like these INGOs and NGOs, several individuals too have been instrumental to us through different ways and means.
These individuals, including Liberia’s immediate past Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, Cultural Ambassador Juli Endee, Counsellor Dr. Yvette Chesson-Wureh, Establishment Coordinator of Angie Brooks In- International Centre (ABIC) for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security, Christiana Winnie Saywah Jimmy, Managing Editor of the Inquirer Newspaper, and Ms. Saifuah Mai Gray have given us the best of themselves to our operation and survivability through opportunities, and financial assistance.
The backbones
As WomenVoices reaches a significant point with its 13th anniversary, we also see it crucial to pause and recognize the cornerstone of our success – our dedicated Publisher and staff. Their unwavering commitment and passion have beeno essence in shaping the newspaper into what it is today.
At the level of our operations, we have ourpassionate and result driven Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Mrs. Helen Nah Sammie. Her visionary leadership and tireless dedication have been the driving force behind WomenVoices’ continued growth and impact.
Working alongside Mrs. Sammie is our Sub-Editor, Jerromie S. Walters, whose dedication and editorial insight remain indescribable.
Our team of Senior reporters, G. Bennie Bravo Johnson and Leila Gbati, are often the brain behind the stories that captivate our readers and make meaningful impact. Their journalistic prowess enriche the pages of WomenVoices and continues to resonate with our audience.
Mrs. Helen Nah Sammie talks about the birth of WV
“Yesterday, March 10, 2024, the Womenvoices Newspaper, which I conceived in my earlier 20s, celebrated its thirteenth anniversary. Womenvoices Newspaper is a perfect example of how passion and commitment may lead to the realization of a long held dream.
She says: “I am the Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of the Womenvoices Newspaper, trying to explain in this article my inspiration for creating a newspaper that specifically addresses the challenges faced by women, girls, and vulnerable individuals in society.
In 1997, as a young lady from high school, I became a receptionist at the Inquirer Newspaper, the year when Liberia had its first post-conflict elections following the end of the first civil war. It was during this time that former President Charles G. Taylor was elected as President of Liberia. During my time at the Inquirer Newspaper, I experienced an event that made a lasting impression on my subconscious mind and eventually became a significant motivator for my aspirations.”
She recalled, “One day, on my way to work, I observed a horrifying fire incident in which a woman, who was in the latter stages of her pregnancy, tragically burned to death. As a young woman myself, I was terribly disturbed and wanted a report on the incident, since I was already working with a newspaper, that would investigate and establish why the pregnant woman died in the fire. Where was the man who impregnated her? Was there no family member to help her, especially in that stage of her pregnancy? These and many questions I would love for the story to answer.”
Mrs. Sammie continued: “So, with excitement and emotion, when I arrived at work in the office of the then-Managing Editor, the late Mr. Philip M. Wesseh, I began to narrate the story. Mr. Wesseh, who was a practical man, requested that I take pen and paper to write the story for publication. That was not the warm reception that I expected from my boss because I was not a reporter but rather a receptionist and had never written a story before. I retorted; however, I accepted the challenge to write my first ever news story.”
Moreover, she noted: “I made all effort within my limited capacity, but upon the publication of the story, I believed that the woman and her unborn baby did not receive proper attention. I desired a vivid portrayal of the excruciating suffering endured by the deceased. I intended for the story to suggest that the woman most likely died in the fire due to the exhaustion commonly experienced during pregnancy. Doing so, I believed would have symbolized her role as a mother and emphasized the various challenges mothers faced. I remained employed at the Inquirer Newspaper for several years following that experience, eventually advanced to the role of advertisement manager, which was my final post before leaving the Inquirer Newspaper in 2010.”
She says she was motivated to launch the Womenvoices Newspaper due to a male colleague’s inappropriate behavior.
“I was motivated to launch the Womenvoices Newspaper due to a male colleague’s inappropriate behavior, in which he (whose name is withheld) made unwelcome advances towards me and made derogatory comments about my physical attributes. Notwithstanding these belittling circumstances, I was motivated by a remark my colleague made that promptly influenced my choice to leave the Inquirer Newspaper and established the Womenvoices Newspaper.”
Mrs. Sammie, “In all seriousness, you possess great strength as a woman and have the ability to independently manage and coordinate your own newspaper.” This statement ultimately sent an awakening message and pushed me heavily to take an action. Upon hearing his statement, I reflected on the fire incident story involving the pregnant woman and various other occasions in which I experienced harassment from my male coworkers that never made headlines. I felt the need to establish a newspaper to address issues of this nature.”
She added, “I informed my boss about my aspirations and engaged in a conversation with him, during which he wholeheartedly accepted the concept. We both pondered the name, as I wanted a name reflecting women’s issues. Womenvoices Newspaper was the final product of our efforts and debuted on newsstands on March 10, 2011.”
Hundreds of articles have been published by Womenvoices Newspaper since March 10, 2011, promoting the works of women and bringing attention to issues of vulnerability and marginalization. Our intention is to sustain this ongoing effort to advocate for the voices of women. This does not imply, contrary to what some individuals would have you believe, that we are unable to report stories that are critical of women; rather, we do report such stories so that their voices are heard.
She speaks on the challenges, “Operating a newspaper in Liberia is inherently challenging, where politicians weaponized advertisement to silence the independent media, in addition to being the first female publisher in a culture predominantly controlled by males.
Besides, national actors have made efforts to coerce me into quietude. I was unjustly accused and incarcerated, seemingly due to the newspaper publishing an alleged corruption exposé implicating the top brass of the Liberian National Police in 2014.”
“There were times when I was on the verge of quitting because things were going so bad, particularly in 2018, when an employee of the Paper stole the 88 KV Perkins generator that was used in the printing press, and in 2019, when there was a burglary in the office. I was in utter disbelief. A few of my employees turned to social media in order to harass and make fun of me because I had been unable to pay them for several months despite their demands. Despite, these difficulties, there are partners and individuals who have stood with Womenvoices, and on this 13th anniversary, we would want to recognize and appreciate them.”
Jerromie S. Walters
Jerromie S. Walters, our Sub-Editor, hails from Brewerville City, Montserrado County, Liberia. With over five years of experience in mainstream media, Jerromie has made significant contributions to our daily publications since joining the institution in 2022. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Journalism from the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Mass Communication at the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion University.
Jerromie S. Walters has received numerous certificates in fact-checking, FGM reporting, Community Journalism, Leadership, and Understanding the Rights of Women and Girls from reputable organizations such as Africa Check, UN Women, Internews, Young African Leadership Institute (YALI), and the Young African Leadership Development Institute (YALDI). In 2023, he was recognized by the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism for his outstanding performance in the field of journalism in Liberia, following his previous honor for achieving the Highest GPA for the 2021 semester.
G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
G Bennie Bravo Johnson I, our Senior reporter, has over five years of experience in mainstream media and originates from Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. Joining WomenVoices Newspaper in 2021, Johnson has demonstrated a deep passion for his work. He is a Graduating Senior at the University of Liberia, pursuing a BA in Demography with a focus in Political Science.
G Bennie Bravo Johnson I also holds an Advanced Diploma in Journalism from the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism and a Diploma in Political Leadership emphasizing International Relations and Regional Integration from the Pan African Leadership Institute (PALI) in Accra, Ghana. Furthermore, he was awarded the 2022 Child Right Reporter of the Year by the Liberia National Children Forum, formerly known as Children Parliament under the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
Leila Gbati
Leila Gbati is the longest serving staff currently at WomenVoices. Since she came on board in 2013, she has served the entity with passion and dedication. Gbati has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration. She has also acquired several certificates in different fields.
Of course, we must also extend our appreciation to all our other reporters and county correspondents who work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring news and stories to life. We acknowledge that their dedication and unwavering professionalism is the lifeblood of WomenVoices.
Our partners
USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. Over the years, USAID maintained a strong and impactful partnership with us, enabling us to benefit from their advertising initiatives. USAID begun providing WomenVoices advertisement following recommendation from Mr. Joel, former NCN of the UN Embassy. He did a memo in last December the institution stopped providing advertisement to us. However, WomenVoiceshas not being given advertisement since his departure from the Embassy.
UNDP
Similar to USAID, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a vital United Nations agency focused on helping countries eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development. Like other institutions, UNICEF and UNDP have been significant pillars in supporting our progress and collaborative efforts.
UN Women Liberia
UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in Liberia, shares a common vision with WomenVoices and has actively engaged with our organization in various media-related activities. As a dedicated UN entity working towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, UN Women’s support has been instrumental in advancing our shared goals.
Liberia Crusaders for Peace
Founded in 1994 by Amb Juli Endee, the Liberia Crusaders For Peace (LCP) is a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that has been a longstanding partner of WomenVoices since our establishment in 2013. The LCP has greatly contributed to our mission. Moreover, LCP Boss Amb. Juli Endee only woman that stood with our publisher when she was harassed in 2014, by former LNP Boss Chris Massaqua.
Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC)
The Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace, and Security plays a crucial role in recognizing and supporting WomenVoices in various activities. Through initiatives like the Women’s Situation Room (WSR), ABIC has actively involved our Publisher and Editor, Mrs. Helen Nah Sammie, in providing consultancy services and promoting our cause.
Former Vice President Taylor
Former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has been a key figure in supporting WomenVoices, providing valuable opportunities for our publisher and institution. Her financial assistance and support towards the construction of our office complex have been invaluable in ensuring our continued growth and impact.
Similar to the former Vice President, Managing Editor Christiana Winnie Saywah Jimmy has made a significant impact at WomenVoices that cannot be ignored. After spending several years as a dedicated staff member, Mrs. Jimmy left the newspaper with grace, continuss to offer her expert insights even after her departure. Additionally, Ms. Saifuah Mai Gray has also been supportive to our growth and sustainability. During her days at NOCAL, she consistently provided us advertisement.
We believe that together, we have made a difference in the lives of many, and we look forward to many more years of impactful partnership ahead. Thank you to all our partners for being an integral part of the WomenVoices family.
