Clar Weah Explained

Clar Weah
Office:First Lady of Liberia
Term Label:In role
Term Start:22 January 2018
Term End:22 January 2024
President:George Weah
Predecessor:Nettie Blah
Successor:Katumu Boakai
Birth Name:Clar Marie Duncan
Birth Date:11 March 1965
Birth Place:Kingston, Jamaica
Party:Congress for Democratic Change
Children:Martha Weah, George Weah Jr, Timothy Weah
Nationality:American

Clar Marie Duncan Weah (née Duncan; born 11 March 1965) is a Jamaican-American[1] businesswoman, philanthropist and advocate who was the first lady of Liberia from 2018 to 2024. She is the wife of George Weah, the 25th President of Liberia. Clar established the Clar Hope Foundation in 2018, with the goal of improving the livelihoods of the least privileged in Liberia.

Biography

Early life and career

Clar Marie Duncan was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and is the youngest of seven children.[2] In her early youth, she migrated along with her family to the United States.[3] In the United States, she attended the City University of New York and earned her nursing license and a bachelor's degree in Health Sciences. She launched her career working as a customer service representative in New York at both Citibank and Chase Manhattan Bank, during which time she, in conjunction, managed small businesses.

She later pursued her studies leading her to a nursing career.[4] She worked at Jamaica Hospital in New York City.[5]

Marriage and children

Clar met George Weah, the then football star, in the early 90s at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, where she was serving as a customer service representative.[6] They married on 26 June 1993,[7] and have three children  - Martha Weah, George Weah Jr.,[8] and Timothy Weah.[9] Their sons are international football players.[10]

First Lady of Liberia (2018–2024)

Following the election of her husband as the 25th President of Liberia,[11] Weah started her role as the First Lady of the Republic of Liberia.[12] She set out to develop programs and social projects that encompass services targeting the assistance of orphans, street children, the elderly, women, and girls, with a focus on rural settings.[13]

In 2018, the Clar Hope Foundation was founded as a non-political initiative.[14] The foundation aims to assist disadvantaged children, youth and women. Its objectives focus on delivering essential educational and emergency healthcare as a universal and constitutional health-right to every Liberian citizen.[15]

The Clar Hope Foundation came from the merger of sustainable development solutions.

In June 2019, President Weah launched Clar Weah's flagship initiative, the "She's You" movement.[16] [17] According to its mission statement, it aims to advance gender equality through the promotion of women's empowerment and fight to end all forms of violence and detrimental practices against women, girls, and children.[18] The She's You movement objectives are to create a conducive environment for women and girls to live free of violence, rape, gender inequalities[19] At the launch of "She's You", President Weah disclosed that on his wife's initiative, the new home for the elderly in Grand Bassa County was almost ready for use.[16]

In September 2020, at the launch of the Liberian Anti-SGBV Conference, Clar Weah reiterated that there was no excuse for rape in her country. She explained that despite her efforts with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, sexual and gender based violence continued. "But with all our efforts," she explained, "SGBV persists. It is sickening to hear children as young as 10 years old are being raped." She cited improved awareness of SGBV and the education of men and boys as priorities for reducing threats of violence again women.[20]

Honours

Weah was appointed in March 2018, at a Women Symposium in Morocco, Ambassador and Champion for Women's Football, by the Confederation of African Football.[21]

Weah was appointed a Merck Foundation[22] ''More than a Mother'' Ambassador to Liberia.[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Korney. Stephanie. 2017-12-30. Liberia's New First Lady Is Jamaican. 2021-09-28. Jamaicans.com. en-US.
  2. Web site: Jamaica Observer Limited. January 4, 2018. Jamaica Observer. en. 2020-03-15.
  3. Web site: the First Lady of the Republic of Liberia – Clar Marie Weah – Liberian Spot. November 12, 2018. libspot.com. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210225170033/https://libspot.com/first-lady/ . 2021-02-25 . 2020-03-15.
  4. Web site: Amb. Clar Marie Weah, First Lady of the Republic of Liberia. emansion.gov.lr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180311103837/http://emansion.gov.lr:80/2content_list_sub.php?main=47&related=47&pg=mp . 2018-03-11 .
  5. Web site: The Executive Mansion. www.emansion.gov.lr. 2020-03-15.
  6. Web site: Come Let's meet the First Lady of Liberia: Mrs. Clar Marie Duncan Weah. Tali. Philip Saa. February 7, 2018. www.linkedin.com. en . 2020-02-25.
  7. Web site: PHOTOS: Liberian President, George Weah Celebrates 27th Marriage Anniversary With Wife, Clar Weah. Enoku. Clement. June 26, 2019. GhanaCelebrities.Com. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190626201557/https://www.ghanacelebrities.com/2019/06/26/photos-liberian-president-george-weah-celebrates-27th-marriage-anniversary-with-wife-clar-weah/ . 2019-06-26 . 2020-02-25.
  8. News: Mark. Gleeson. Weah junior finally gets chance to emulate famous father. June 9, 2015. Reuters. 2020-03-15 . en.
  9. Web site: Timothy Weah returns to field for Lille after lengthy injury absence. Ari. Liljenwall. February 17, 2020. mlssoccer.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200810121744/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/16/timothy-weah-returns-field-lille-after-lengthy-injury-absence . 2020-08-10 . March 15, 2020.
  10. Web site: Like father, like son: George and Timothy Weah play on same day. September 12, 2018. en.as.com/. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200809001902/https://en.as.com/en/2018/09/12/football/1536756926_510632.html . 2020-08-09 .
  11. Web site: The Executive Mansion. Executive Mansion Liberia. February 18, 2018. www.emansion.gov.lr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117153926/http://www.emansion.gov.lr:80/2content.php?sub=121&related=19&third=121&pg=sp . 2013-01-17 . 2020-02-25.
  12. Web site: The Executive Mansion of Liberia. February 18, 2018. www.emansion.gov.lr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180311103837/http://emansion.gov.lr:80/2content_list_sub.php?main=47&related=47&pg=mp . 2018-03-11 . 2020-02-24.
  13. Web site: First Lady Weah Launches Clar Hope Foundation. June 4, 2018. www.emansion.gov.lr. 2020-03-15.
  14. Web site: First Lady Weah Launches Clar Hope Foundation. Executive Mansion Liberia. June 4, 2018. emansion.gov.lr . 2020-03-15.
  15. Web site: LIBERIA: First Lady Weah says Children's Education is a Priority. Brooks. Cholo. March 21, 2019. gnnliberia.com. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190323134430/http://gnnliberia.com/2019/03/21/liberia-first-lady-weah-says-childrens-education-is-a-priority/ . 2019-03-23 . 2020-03-15.
  16. Web site: President Weah Promotes Women's Cause at Grand Launch of 'She's You' Movement. reliefweb. 22 June 2019. 27 November 2020 .
  17. Web site: First Lady Clar Weah Launches She's You Movement – New Republic Liberia. June 21, 2019. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190622130057/http://newrepublicliberia.com/first-lady-clar-weah-launches-shes-you-movement/ . 2019-06-22 . 2020-03-15.
  18. Web site: Liberia's first lady to launch 'she is you' movement. October 5, 2019. Journal du Cameroun. fr. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190510131136/https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/liberias-first-lady-to-launch-she-is-you-movement/ . 2019-05-10 . 2020-03-15.
  19. Web site: "We Need to Stop Protecting Rapists in Africa". Worzi. Alvin. June 21, 2019. Liberian Observer. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190622145516/https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/we-need-to-stop-protecting-rapists-in-africa/ . 2019-06-22 . 2020-03-15.
  20. Web site: First Lady Clar Weah: THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR RAPE!. Republic of Liberia: Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. 8 September 2020. 27 November 2020 .
  21. Web site: Steven Lavon . CAF: la femme de George Weah nommée ambassadrice du football féminin . March 6, 2018. Africa Top Sports. fr-FR. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200111195337/https://www.africatopsports.com/2018/03/06/caf-femme-de-george-weah-nommee-ambassadrice-football-feminin/ . 2020-01-11 . 2020-03-15.
  22. Web site: Search Page. www.merck-foundation.com. 2020-03-19. 2020-03-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20200319170249/https://www.merck-foundation.com/MF_Search?search=liberia. dead.
  23. Web site: Dr. Rasha Kelej To Launch Merck Foundation In Liberia. February 24, 2020. PUBLIC AGENDA NEWS. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200225162422/https://publicagenda1.com/2020/02/24/first-lady-clar-marie-weah-others-to-launch-merck-foundation/ . 2020-02-25 . 2020-03-15.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Clar Weah".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.