Yesterday's Treasure, Tomorrow's Hope:  In this program, we create awareness in American communities of the plights of disadvantaged African children, families and learning institutions in Africa and of course to raise  funds and materials  here in the States to help make a difference in these poor African communities. This process include, the solicitation of computers and related accessories, clothing, shoes, educational materials, text books and other useful equipment that could be used for human resource development purposes overseas. The items collected are intended for use at our centers both in Liberia and Nigeria as well as for distribution to other institutions of learning,  poor individuals and families in the country.

The gethering of relief materials from around the State of Louisiana for nation and capacity building in Liberia.

Video reporting of our 2011 educational and humanitarian shipment to Liberia
 

JUSTIFICATION OF THE LIBERIAN RELIEF AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Liberia’s education system was seriously undermined by the war. More than 30 percent of public and 24 percent of community schools were totally destroyed, and a further 16 percent of public and community schools experienced major damage. Desks, chairs, and other basic supplies disappeared. Enrollment rates plummeted as a whole generation of children missed the opportunity to go to school.

Almost 35 percent of the population has never attended school, including nearly 44 percent of females. Further, about 56 percent of Liberians are considered functionally illiterate, including a staggering 59 percent of females. Today only 45 percent of classrooms in the public sector are in good condition. Only 22 percent of public and community schools have seats, and only one-third of public and community schools have functioning pit latrines or flush toilets. Textbooks are scarce – there is just one for every 27 students. Teacher salaries are low, making retention difficult, and only 24 percent of primary teachers in the public School system possess the minimum primary school teaching certificate. Illiteracy rate for male stands at 46.1% and for female 77.6%

With just one in 25 Liberians having access to a toilet, most use the nearest bush or beach, unwittingly committing what the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) calls “the riskiest sanitation practice”. Liberia’s 3.5 million people share just 19,690 toilets, according to a government water and sanitation sector assessment from October 2008, and fewer than one in three Liberians have access to safe drinking water, according to the head of Liberia’s Water and Sewer Corporation, Hun-Bu Tulay. Poor water and sanitation infrastructure contributes to high child deaths from malaria and diarrhoea, which kill 42 percent and 22 percent of Liberian children under age five, respectively, according to the NGO members of the water and sanitation or ‘WASH’ consortium in Liberia. 

Today, the fourteen years civil war has drastically changed the face of Liberia politically, socially and economically. Less than two percent of Liberia’s estimated two million rural dwellers have access to electricity. Most rely on candles or small kerosene lamps to light up their evening activities. But limited lighting impedes chores after dark, prevents post-dusk operation of small businesses, limits the ability of students to study, and contributes to poor security. There is 85% unemployment rate in Liberia accord to the 2003 estimation. 

Source of information: International Monetary Fund Washington D.C.
Liberia Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, July 7, 2008

In view of the aforementioned, in 2011 we sent our third humanitarian relief and edducational  shipment from Louisiana of over 200 computers and accessories, text books, shoes, clothing, folding tables and as well as  conference chairs, and other pieces of equipments were sent to Liberia to help with the rebuilding efforts in that country.  

In 2008, Highland Elementary School Children in Eunice Louisiana send school supplies to support other poor kids in post war Liberia, West Africa.	In 2010, a team of students led by Jena Simard  from Lafayette High School in Louisiana, donated over 3,000 text books to help  the educational recovery efforts in Liberia.

 
By November 2, 2011, a six men evaluation team will leave the USA for post war Liberia to help clear the shipment from the seaport over there and supervise the distribution process of these items to families, individuals and other learning institutions in the country. By the grace of God, our team will also oversee the completion of a public library and the free Heart of Grace High School in the City View, Lower Johnsonville Community area in Liberia. The team will be led by Dr. Michel Dioubate and Ms. Heather Lecky both board members of Change Agent Network.