OUR FOUNDER & CEO IS IN THE UNITED STATES

OUR FOUNDER & CEO IS IN THE UNITED STATES

Advocacy & Awareness
March 07, 2025

We are proud to announce that our Founder and CEO, Dr. Charles Gbollie, is currently in the United States. He was officially invited to attend the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, taking place from March 10–21, 2025.

During this high-level event, Dr. Gbollie will spotlight our recent study titled “Building Self-Esteem and Resilience in the Face of Adversity: An Empirical Study on Educational Challenges and Gender-Based Violence Among Women and Girls in Liberia.”

This groundbreaking research explores the complex barriers limiting educational access for Liberian women and girls, with a particular focus on the impact of gender-based violence (GBV) on self-esteem and resilience. It also assesses the effectiveness of existing interventions and proposes evidence-based strategies to empower women and girls.

Dr. Gbollie, who also serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Liberia, has pledged to use the CSW69 platform to amplify the study’s findings and advocate for the rights and well-being of women and girls in Liberia—particularly through FREE-Liberia’s programs and initiatives.

“Women’s rights are not only human rights; they are rights that guarantee and protect all of humanity,” Dr. Gbollie stated. “All of us in this world came through women. They are not only our sisters and wives but also our loving and caring mothers. When women succeed, all of us succeed. There is nothing much men can do in this world without the help and support of women. We must make their voices heard—everywhere, every place.”

At FREE-Liberia, we believe that GBV is not only a violation of human rights but also creates an unsafe environment that drives women and girls away from schools. Addressing this issue is critical to improving educational outcomes.

The study was conducted by FREE-Liberia, in partnership with the Association for Life of Africa (AFLA).

About FREE-Liberia

Founded in July 2015, FREE-Liberia is a registered and accredited non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to fostering evidence-based solutions for sustainable, long-term impact. Our team includes innovative researchers, academicians, and professionals in Liberia and abroad. We are dedicated to conducting systematic research that informs impactful interventions in education, gender equity, and youth empowerment.

FREE-Liberia has conducted several empirical studies, including the widely cited publication: “Student Academic Performance: The Role of Motivation, Strategies, and Perceived Factors Hindering Liberian Junior and Senior High School Students’ Learning” (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2017/1789084...).

For more information or partnership inquiries, visit: www.free.org.lr or contact freeliberia7@gmail.com .