“No One Left Behind”, Second Lady Leads Disability Empowerment Tour Across Liberia

In a bold and compassionate show of inclusion, Liberia’s Second Lady Madam Synleseh Stephenie Dahn Koung led a high-impact humanitarian tour across seven counties last week, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the dignity and welfare of persons living with disabilities.

The visit, carried out under the banner of the Group of 77, targeted some of Liberia’s most vulnerable citizens in Gbarma (Gbarpolu), Tubmanburg (Bomi), Robertsport (Grand Cape Mount), Kakata (Margibi), Gbarnga (Bong), Sanniquellie (Nimba), and Voinjama (Lofa).

Madam Koung, who also serves as Executive Director of the Group of 77, personally led the team that distributed essential supplies including rice, oil, mattresses, crutches, and smartphones for county coordinators items meant not only to bring relief but also to empower and connect communities.

“More than just items, we brought love, respect, and a message of hope,” Madam Koung said in a heartfelt statement following the tour, which has since drawn widespread praise across the country.

The smartphones, she noted, were provided specifically to enhance communication and ensure efficient, real-time reporting by the Group’s county-based teams. This move, observers say, reflects a practical approach to decentralizing service delivery and monitoring impact.

“This tour was a reminder of the strength and resilience of our people and why we must continue working towards a Liberia where everyone matters and no one is left behind,” she added.

The Group of 77, Liberia’s flagship institution for people living with disabilities has long advocated for equal rights, access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for the disabled community.

Madam Koung’s presence in each of the locations was deeply symbolic. As the spouse of Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, her direct engagement with disabled citizens carries weight and signals high-level attention to inclusion in national development.

Crowds of cheering residents and grateful beneficiaries in towns and villages welcomed the delegation, with many expressing emotional appreciation for the rare gesture of being seen, heard, and supported by a national figure.

“This is the first time I’ve felt that we matter to the people in power. They brought us more than gifts. They brought us respect,” said a disabled woman in Gbarnga who received a mattress and food package.

Liberians with disabilities often face systemic challenges, including stigma, limited access to facilities, and exclusion from education or employment opportunities. Advocacy groups have for years called for greater attention to their plight.

The Second Lady’s tour appears to be a direct response to those calls, reinforcing a shift toward people-centered governance under the new administration led by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Vice President Koung.

Social workers and disability rights advocates who accompanied the mission say the response from the local communities was overwhelming and emotional, further underlining the importance of continued support.

“Our disabled citizens are not asking for pity; they are asking for inclusion. This initiative speaks directly to that demand,” one staffer said.

With this outreach, Madam Koung has positioned herself as a leading voice for Liberia’s disabled community one whose actions may influence broader national policies on equity and social protection.

As Liberia grapples with rebuilding a post-conflict and post-pandemic social system, initiatives like this one could lay the groundwork for a more inclusive national agenda one where no one is left behind, and every Liberian is given a fair chance to live with dignity.