ActionAid Liberia, DOMAFEIGN Launch Gbarpolu’s First Traditional Arts School to Replace FGM
For Sustainable Livelihoods
Under the Just and Equal Community Project (JEC) on January 24, 2026, DOMAFEIGN in partnership with ActionAid Liberia launched the first Traditional Art School in Gbama District, Gbarpolu County, which now replaces the practices of Female Genita Mutilation (FGM or FGC).
The Traditional Art School now serves an empowerment center designed and set up by Domafeign, one of the four local implementing partners of the JEC project. The school is meant to train women and young girls with various traditional and empowerment skills such tailoring, country clothes weaving, traditional dances.
The center will also serve as an epic center for skills training and for also passing on valuable traditional morals to young women and girls without carrying them through any form of FGM.
Established by a former FGM Practitioner, now Change Champion; Jarbu B. Johnson, who has long transitioned from the practice of female genital mutilation to now productive and sustainable livelihoods, the traditional art school now serves as an empowerment hub for girls and women who have or have not been survivors of the FGM gain meaningful skills.
The launch of Gbarpolu 1st traditional Art School, which happens to be the first of its kind in the area brought together hundreds of rural residents, traditional leaders, the county legislative caucus, civil society organizations, FGM survivors, former practitioners, and girls and women who are currently benefiting from the center.
The art center comes after years of ActionAid Liberia and partner work in Gbarpolu County with FGM Practitioners who have transitioned from harmful traditional practitioners to now more productive and sustainable livelihood activities, while also leading efforts and advocacy for girls and women’s health rights and protection across Gbarpolu County.
Jartu B. Johnson, a former FGM practitioner who is leading the change in Gbarma, now a Change Champion working hand-in-hand with DOMAFEIGN is the brain behind the Art School in her community.
Speaking at the launching program, Johnson in a very firm tone called for county-level support to the Art school. She acknowledged the role ActionAid, Domafeign, and SIDA have played in the transformation girls and women of Gbarma are now experiencing but stressed that the donor and NGO community cannot do everything.
She said the local county authority must join in partnership to sustain the gains made and equip the Art school.
“I am not begging you, I am demanding your to advocate for this center to get support so we can train the girls and girls and women of Gbarma since we have laid down arms (abandoned FGM Practices.” Jartu told Senator Botoe Kanneh and Gbarpolu County district 3 representative Hon. Mustapha Wority.
Senator Kanneh in her response to the change Champion commended ActionAid Liberia and partners and pledged her fullest support to the Champion Johnson note that the fact that such change has started from Gbarma, particularly Gbarpolu. She prayed that such initiative be extended to other counties and communities beyond Parker Town, in Gbarpolu County.
“I am glad it’s starting in a traditional area.” Senator Botoe said at the commencement of her remarks.
Honorable Kanneh then continued by commitment support to a more sustainable art center, “This traditional area will be one to expand in the other areas, are we are there encourage you people, she noted. But then added “For us, we are at the back, whatsoever you say, that’s what we will do.” Hon. Kanneh told traditionalists and audience at the even in response to Jartu Johnson’s call for support to the center.
Speaking at the launch of the Art School, ActionAid Liberia’s Country Director, Elizabeth Gbah Johnson, praised change champion Jartu for her foresight, determination, and commitment to improving the lives of girls and women through her transition.
Madam Johnson highlighted that the idea to establish the art school came directly from beneficiaries of the Jartu Empowerment Center (JEC), describing this as a true example of sustainability. She emphasized that meaningful change is most effective when driven by the women themselves.
“This is exactly what we are talking about, and this is why we are so happy with what we are seeing you do,” she told attendees.
She added that sustainability goes beyond the presence of ActionAid, noting that the initiative reflects years of engagement and collaboration with women in Gbarpolu County, particularly in Gbarma District. “This is not about ActionAid. It is about the women who made the decision and are leading what is happening here,” she said.
Madam Johnson concluded by calling for collective action to preserve Liberia’s positive cultural values while reforming practices that harm the lives of girls and women.