(BEIJING, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA – Saturday, May 11, 2018) Liberia’s First Lady, Mrs. Clar Marie Weah, is appealing to humanitarians, philanthropists and others to provide needed support and assistance to improve the lives of the country’s vulnerable population. She named the targeted groups as women, the elderly, orphans, special need children as well as wayward young youth.

Through the “Clar Hope Foundation”, Mrs. Weah indicated that her goal is to improve the living conditions of both urban and rural women, increase the income of rural women through agriculture; rehabilitate, educate and train young boys and girls that are in the streets of Liberia.

According to a dispatch from Liberia’s Embassy in Beijing, China, Mrs. Clar Weah made the appeal when she met with the Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Henan Province, Mr. He Jinping and the leadership of that province.

Mrs. Weah noted that her motivation came from President George Weah’s Inaugural Address where he promised unification, a business-friendly environment, and more importantly to improve the conditions of the most vulnerable population in Liberia through a Pro-Poor Agenda.

She promised to make his dream a reality and outlined plans to build a facility to be called “City of Hope”, which will consist of a home for disadvantaged children, a rehabilitation center for girls from the street, a school, shelters for orphans and a feeding program for the elderly.

Though she has already commenced a lot of these initiatives geared toward bettering the lives of Liberians by restoring hope, she’s out appealing for additional help to sustainable continue this initiative. “To adequately provide for my people,” she urged, “I will need your help and support.”

The Liberian First Lady said while she and her husband are optimistic of providing prosperity for the people of Liberia, there are numerous constraints – weak economy, high unemployment, among others. As such, the basic social needs that the population should have are far from being met.

Mrs. Weah reminded the leadership of Henan Province that her husband, President Weah, who visited the province prior to the elections in 2017 and announced his candidacy at an elementary school there, has characterized the people of the province of being “kind, loving and supportive”.

She also informed Mr. He and his officials that President Weah will be visiting China for the African Leaders’ Meeting scheduled in September this year and is looking forward to returning to Henan Province to “shake hands” with them.

Responding, Mr. He, Vice Governor, praised the Liberia’s President Pro-Poor Agenda outlined by the First Lady as Agriculture, Education, Youth Empowerment, Education, Infrastructure and healthcare to improve the living condition.

According to him, China which was once faced with similar poverty conditions has successfully moved millions of people from poverty with their comparative advantage, labor. 

He applauded the First Lady for establishing the Clar Hope Foundation aimed at catering to the most vulnerable – especially the youth. “I think that it will help them solve their current problems.” He foresees this initiative getting massive support for its work.

While in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, Mrs. Weah also visited several manufacturing companies including the Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company, Henan Ruimei Hair Products Co., Ltd. (a wig factory) and PowerChina Henan Engineering Co., Ltd.

During those visits, Mrs. Weah expressed her desire to see these companies partner with Liberia and invest in the country’s development efforts thus providing jobs for needy Liberians. She furthered her appeal for support to the “Clar Hope Foundation”.

The chairman of the Board of PowerChina, Mr. Wang Haibo and the president of the company, Henan Ruimei Hair Products Co., Ltd., Mrs. Xihe Zhang, expressed their excitement at exploring business opportunities in Liberia and have agreed to join a business delegation that will visit Liberia shortly.

They indicated their desire to open manufacturing companies in Liberia that will cater to the sub-region as well as provide needed jobs for many Liberian youths.

In Beijing, the Liberia’s First Lady also met with the senior faculty of the South-South Cooperation and Development School at Peking University headed by one of the most famous East Asia Economist, Professor Justin Yifu Lin who once served as Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank.

She used the opportunity to extend a hand of partnership to the Peking University family to assist her foundation in any way possible to realize her dream; whether it’s by providing scholarships or technical assistance.

Mrs. Weah assured the Peking University faculty that the Liberia/China bilateral relationship will be further strengthened under their administration. She thanked the Chinese Government for its bilateral scholarships enjoyed by many Liberians.

While in Beijing, she visited an ICT company, Huawei and held discussions with its senior management.

She was accompanied on her various visits by Liberia’s Ambassador to China, H.E. Dudley McKinley Thomas; Minister of State Without Portfolio, Mr. Trokon Tahlo Kpui (a product of Peking University); Minister Counselor at the Liberian Embassy near Beijing, J. Wesley Washington, among others.