Monrovia – As Liberia continues to seek innovative ways to empower young girls and promote gender equality through sports, football executive Jodie Marian Reid is emerging as a leading advocate for using the game as a tool for social transformation and equal opportunity.
By: Christopher C. Walker, christopherc.walker@frontpageafricaonline.com
Through the Liberia Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE), Reid and her team recently commemorated the International Day of the African Child with a football-centered community engagement program aimed at educating and empowering young people, particularly girls, on critical health and hygiene issues.
Held on June 16 at the F.C. Gar’ou Academy in Johnsonville, the event brought together more than 100 participants, including students, footballers, coaches, and community members.
The program was held under the theme: “Ensuring Universal Access to Water and Sanitation Hygiene for Every African Child.”
The initiative forms part of LIFE’s “Football for Development” strategy, which was launched earlier this year in River Cess County.
The strategy seeks to leverage football as a platform to unite communities and drive sustainable development.
Addressing participants during the event, organizers emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for girls both on and off the football field.
The initiative aligns with Reid’s longstanding advocacy for greater female participation in sports and community leadership.
An educational session facilitated by Dr. Hunter Tiabor focused on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), alongside Menstrual Hygiene Management was held.
Participants received practical information on disease prevention, personal hygiene, and healthy sanitation practices.
Special attention was given to menstrual hygiene awareness to help young girls build confidence and better manage their health.
Young footballer Patience James praised the initiative, describing it as a vital platform that brought together players, students, and community elders to discuss issues directly affecting their lives.
“This program has given us valuable knowledge and allowed us to learn together as a community,” James said.
The Director of F.C. Gar’ou Academy, also lauded LIFE’s efforts, noting that such programs help bridge generational gaps and encourage meaningful discussions among community members.
“LIFE is doing a great job and should continue bringing people of different ages and backgrounds together to reason and learn from one another,” she said, while encouraging female students and players to serve as ambassadors for good hygiene practices.
The initiative is built around three pillars Educate, Empower, and Inspire and organizers used the occasion to highlight the critical connection between good health and athletic performance.
Participants were reminded that proper hygiene and overall wellness are essential ingredients for success in sports.
In a symbolic demonstration of inclusion and equality, the program featured a mixed-gender football match involving both boys and girls.
Organizers said the activity underscored the message that sustainable community development requires the active participation of everyone, regardless of gender, age, or social status.
Participants also took part in a community clean-up exercise and practical handwashing demonstrations designed to reinforce lessons learned during the educational sessions.
The event concluded with the distribution of hygiene kits to students and young footballers, equipping them with essential resources to practice healthy habits at home, school, and within their communities.
For many attendees, the program reflected the growing role football can play beyond competition, serving as a powerful vehicle for education, empowerment, and social change.
As Liberia continues efforts to expand opportunities for women and girls in sports, initiatives led by Reid and LIFE are demonstrating how football can be used to address broader community challenges while inspiring the next generation of female leaders both on and off the pitch.
