During Liberia’s civil war (1989-1997), Kolahun District suffered some of the heaviest fighting, destruction, and mass accounts of sexual assault.  As a result, an estimated 40% of women continue to struggle with major depression and other mental health challenges.  These women – many of whom live in extreme poverty and are the effective heads of household for their families – face the dual challenges of healing from trauma while providing their families.  However, according to the World Health Organization, fewer than 1% of Liberians have access to needed mental health services.

One Day’s Wages partnered with Restore Hope to bring hope and healing to Liberian women who have endured significant trauma.  Restore Hope’s unique and integrated response to training facilitators who provide Interpersonal Group Therapy ensured that as many women as possible have the psychosocial services they need.  Women also had the opportunity to join a weaving cooperative for income generation.  Last year the cooperative became legally registered so that it can continue sustaining operations independently.  This integrated approach provided a sustainable and scalable program for ongoing mental health support while advancing women’s economic and social empowerment.  Through our partnership, 626 women completed 12 weeks of intensive group therapy, a majority of whom were clinically assessed to have significantly reduced levels of depression and anxiety!