Monrovia Liberia, January 21, 2021 - Tuan Wreh Institute and KDE Disability Africa Foundation (non-profit organization headquartered in the USA) opened a vocational training school (accredited by the Ministry of Education) to provide tuition free opportunities for people living with physical disabilities, and scholarships for vulnerable young women in Liberia. The school which is currently benefitting 21 people living with disabilities held a grand opening, ribbon cutting and gifting ceremony on December 12, 2020 where trainees are being taught fashion design, tailoring, computer literacy and graphic design. The center includes a Clothing production unit and fashion boutique that provides apprenticeship and employment for the TWI / KDE students.

Speaking at the launch via Zoom from the United States, the Executive Director of KDE Disability Africa Foundation, Madam Kimma Wreh said there are enormous problems people who are physically challenged face, and her foundation's support is to help ensure that the lives of people living with disabilities are transformed and improved. “We believe that only in working together, we can truly address income inequality, poverty, and the marginalization of the most vulnerable members of our society. Let me quote the words of Nelson Mandela “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” stated Wreh.

The Tuan Wreh Institute and the KDE Disability Africa Foundation have been at the forefront of the battle against the cycle of poverty, income inequality, and the marginalization of unprotected and helpless Africans. The sister organizations are on a mission to help the downtrodden, dis-advantaged, dis-enfranchised and vulnerable members of Liberia's society. TWI and KDE believe that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty, gender, and income inequality, pathway to true independence.

Kimma Wreh is passionate about empowering marginalized girls and young women who frequently lag behind male counterparts due to disabilities, school dropouts, social stigmas and poverty. “We believe that poverty and income inequality is not simply a problem of money. It is a problem of unequal opportunities because not everyone was born with the same opportunity to go to school. Not everyone was born of parents who have stable income. Some, and unfortunately, many were born only to struggle. Someone has to lift them up and advocate for them…It is for this reason that TWI and KDE came to be.” said Wreh.

The Tuan Wreh Institute, in partnership with KDE Disability Africa has helped hundreds of vulnerable girls and young women, out of school and unemployed adults, people with disabilities, orphans and abandoned children, by providing practical skills training in fashion design, computer literacy, and graphics design. The skills training will one day, enable them to land a job or start their own businesses. This is how TWI and KDE envision to fight the cycle of poverty among our fellow brothers and sisters in Liberia.

Also speaking at the event, the Representative of Montserrado County, District #6, Samuel R. Enders donated usage of a 16-seater van to commute students to and from school. He applauded the KDE Disability Africa Foundation for providing opportunities that will enable people living with physical disabilities to achieve their dreams. KDE / TWI gifted Rep. Enders with a wooden plaque representing the 16 tribes of Liberia and the seal of the Republic of Liberia.

Rep. Enders shared his struggles growing up because of bullying and ridicule having not attended school until he was a teenager. He reminded the students that they were physically but not mentally disabled. "I want to encourage you to look inside yourself, when you are weak, look at the foundation which brought you. When you feel tired and something is holding you down, look at yourself and say you can make it." Rep. Enders urged the beneficiaries.

Other speakers included Amb. Bill Rogers (Bill Rogers Youth Foundation) and Chief Dr. Quinton Tamba Taylor de’Alexander (We Dream In Color Foundation) who likewise provided inspiring and motivating words to both the students and guests in attendance. Bill Rogers, a recipient of the "Nelson Mandela Freedom Award 2020", shared how he suffered a physical disability during the Liberian civil war. Despite this obstacle, Rogers is an international Liberian marathon runner, an inspiration to the physically challenged students of the training center.

For her part, Ms. Sarah Wallace, commended the foundation for opening the first disability vocational school in Liberia and said she was inspired to attend since she was unemployed. She revealed that after her graduation, she wants to be self-reliant to help support her family and impact other's lives.

Madam Wreh is self-financing an expansion of the new training center during the pandemic at a great personal sacrifice and she is kindly appealing to humanitarian organizations to sponsor the students. While the students are willing to make use of the opportunities, she says the lack of affordable transportation to commute them to and from school is a significant stumbling block to their learning process.

## Press Release by Excel Global Media Group ##

Contact Information

Phone (Liberia): 0778138952, 0886388812 | (USA): +1 832 483 4864

Email (Liberia): [email protected] | (USA): [email protected]

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Website: www.TuanWrehInstitute.org | www.kdedisabilityafrica.org