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Emily Sloboh

Emily Sloboh

When civil war broke out in Liberia in 1990, Emily Sloboh fled rebel attacks and sought refuge in neighboring Guinea. There, she learned several vocational skills including tailoring, computer literacy, French, music and Christian education. She helped organize the Refugee School System, working as a nursery school teacher, PTA treasurer and a head mistress with the International Rescue Committee, from whom she received a teacher training certificate.

Along with five other female refugee teachers, Emily formed the Refugee Women Self-Help Club, a low-interest credit union, to alleviate their own and other struggling women’s financial difficulties. With a loan from the club, Emily baked cakes, donuts and bread, which she sold to survive.

In 2000, she and the friends who had helped her form the credit union established Today’s Women International Network (TWIN), a local NGO committed to women’s freedom, human dignity and self-reliance. Its goal is to serve women and young girls victimized by sexual exploitation, oppression and injustice and violent conflict in West Africa. TWIN provides emergency assistance, protection of human rights, post-conflict development and resettlement assistance. TWIN is presently carrying out programs in Guinea and Liberia.

To date, TWIN’s outreach activities have benefited more than 12,000 women and girls, including sex workers, adolescents and unaccompanied minors. At least 3,302 people have been trained in vocational/marketable skills-training activities, including tailoring, baking, soap-making, hairdressing, carpentry, cane work (arts and crafts), tie-dye, embroidery and batik. More than 1,149 women have received grants for self-sustainability. To enable beneficiaries to concentrate on their skills training, TWIN established a day care center and primary school. TWIN is a member of the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights.

In 2007, Emily received the Women’s Refugee Commission’s Voices of Courage Award. She was honored for her courageous and heroic background in the face of adversity and tireless work in promoting livelihood opportunities in conflict situations in Guinea.

Emily has spoken at international reproductive health and women’s rights conferences and seminars.