LIBERIA: MOTHER'S DAY WALK-A-THON
Words & Images: The Gbowee Peace Foundation
M
onrovia
stood
still.
It
was
tra nsfor mat iona l,
educational
and
inspiring. Young and old
walked from the iconic
Lutheran Church on 13th
Street,
to
Musu’s
Spot
entertainment
centre
in
Congo Town. The Gbowee
Peace
Foundation
Africa
(GPFA), along with its founder
Nobel
Laureate
Leymah
Gbowee, over the weekend of
May 11th, 2013, celebrated
Mother’s Day with Liberian
Women. Interestingly, even
babies were part of the walk
as some mothers made sure
their babies went with them
to GPFA’s 1st Annual Mothers
& Daughters Walk-a-Thon
held on Saturday.
24 GOWOMAN SEPTEMBER|2013
This was the GPFA and
Madam Gbowee’s way of
appreciating Mothers and,
affording
daughters the
opportunity to do the same
in a more personal way; and
they all really enjoyed it.
The Mothers and Daughters
Walk-a-Thon was described
by participants as exciting,
amazing
and
a
worthy
experience. The turnout was
great as hundreds of mothers
and daughters walked and
talked and were inspired
by each other and the day’s
event.
After walking and talking from
13th Street through VaMoMa
House in the Airfield vicinity,
to the Catholic Hospital
Junction with some onlookers
cheerfully waving, mothers
and daughters arrived finally
at Musu’s Spot in Congo Town,
amidst jubilation. Women
and girls felt cherished and
there were ladies on standby
to pin participants with
roses. Indeed mothers were
honoured as daughters used
this arena, some for the very
first time to verbalise direct
appreciation and love!
The occasion was climaxed
by dancing and singing and
with words of inspiration
by Madam Gbowee. The
matriarch
expressed
sentiments of disbelief and
wonderment at the fact that
GPFA accomplished the feat
of bringing Liberian women
"
together to have a moment
to
celebrate
their
own
womanhood.
The programme also included
dramatization
on
Girl’s
Education, a Fashion Show
and a mixture of learning and
artistry to entertain the guests
and participants. Guests were
serenaded by the original
Liberian musical ensemble
known as the Den-L Band.
The generosity of Liberian
Women was visible as they
overwhelmingly
supported
GPFA’s work through the
Walk-a-thon Gift and Pledge
forms. The ladies then shared
a mouth-watering Liberianstyled “Dry Rice and Fried
Fish”.
This was GPFA and
Madam
Gbowee's
way of appreciating
mothers
and,
affording
daughters
the opportunity to do
the same in a more
personal
way
and
they all really enjoyed
it.
"
This was a wonderful event
as expressed in the face of a
little girl who was challenged
by her peer on the dance floor.
She first ran away and later
was called back for a reprise.
She took the dance floor and
took it well. Finally, a young
mother shouted at the end of
the event; “This is exciting,
we had an amazing time!!
PLEASE let’s make it an
annual affair!!”
For the record, GPFA intends
to do so!
: /GboweePeaceFoundationAfrica
GOWOMAN SEPTEMBER|2013
25