Like any other country, this is a nation where you can meet many awesome people. Unfortunately, it is also a country where most of the children wish they had enough to eat; their parents wish they had enough education to earn an income to provide for their own children. They deserve opportunities that you and I take for granted. These are people who have been devastated by the effect of a warlord and by an Ebola epidemic; people who want to rebuild their country; people who desperately need our assistance. The photos below show students who attend a school in Liberia that had closed due to inadequate funds during the 2017-18 year but are now open because of Canadian donors' generosity. The photos on the right were taken at the end of the year graduation ceremony, July 2019.
Liberia is 175th out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI) as
a result of their economy being destroyed through wars and an Ebola epidemic.
Throughout West Africa, the age for sexual consent is low in relation to the world
average, making children more vulnerable. 18 of the bottom 20 countries on the
HDI is in Africa. At the same time, it is noteworthy that there are
86% of Christians in Liberia (75% Protestant Christian), so the people's fundamental belief
system is honesty and integrity. Desperation draws people away
from making the best choices, but there is a solid base of
ethical desire. We plan to empower these people to make their country and
the countries around them a better place to live. It would likely be easier to get
donations if we were to feed children directly and leave their parents helplessly. On the sidelines. Instead, we choose to provide strategic employment for parents
so that families have an income to provide for their children. There is a place for food programs for children, but it should not be the
primary path to alleviating poverty.
