After going to Dodi Island for two days to assess the needs of people there, I returned to Amedzofe to assist Wisdom Ekissi in writing a new proposal for the Dodi Island School. The main aim of this proposal was to complete the plastering and painting on the school (the school cosmetics) and to fill it with desks, chairs and cupboards.

One of the primary concerns that I became aware of was the lack of knowledge about Dodi Island. I set out to create a survey in which to ask the people of the island in order to acquire more information in ways to best address their needs.

On my first trip to the island I stayed with Akorsu Sammy. He hosted me for two days and provided me with food and transport to the island. On my second and week long trip I stayed with Mama Ata and her family. She similarly provided me with food and accommodation for the seven days of my stay. Read the rest of this entry »

Blog day 3

This morning we headed out to the Sean Devereux Community Education Project (SDCEP) in Brewerville – about 30 minutes drive from the city centre through the market area which was, as always, a mass of people, cars, motorbikes and piles of stinking rubbish. It’s hard work driving in this town – having to negotiate bodies, cars, bikes and wheelbarrows laden with old clothes that the locals buy and sell.
We had a look at the classrooms and facilities – the girls were doing tailoring, the older ones were doing maths and English and the little ones, some of whom don’t look old enough for school, were learning their ABCs. The new completed auditorium is used as classrooms during the day with the room being divided into 5 areas using woven palm screens – how they can concentrate in those conditions is beyond me but they do…the children sit so quietly and patiently and they really are learning. In the Internet Café students were researching on Google (and sneakily checking their Facebook pages) on PCs sent on the container. The speed of the connection was excellent – better than we get at home sometimes.
We walked to the area where the market garden women were working. They had planted cabbages and sweetcorn from seeds sent on the container and were harvesting cucumbers and okra. They were so appreciative of the help that they receive from the Fund.
Next stop was the old refugee area in FOA (the site of the old Friends of America radio station). Little seems to have changed since the war here, people are still living in huts made of woven palm, old tarpaulins and some were made out of old World Food Programme cans. To survive here you have to be resourceful. The huts all had numbers painted on the side so that they can be identified for the feeding programme which is still ongoing. 43% of Liberian children still suffer from malnutrition.
Just outside the refugee area we saw the footbridge that SDCEP had built using old iron from the radio station site and wooden planks. It crossed a swampy creek but seemed to lead nowhere. It transpired that 5 of the students from SDCEP lived in the bush area beyond the swamp. They walk for an hour each day to go to school and, in the rainy season, they had to take their clothes off and swim across the creek.

Blog day 2
We started the day with a visit to the Sean Devereux Youth Centre at Matadi where we met almost 100 of the students that are supported by the VOS (Volunteers of Sean) sponsorship programme. The children ranged in age from about 4 to 20 and many had been accompanied by their parents. Many of them had travelled for several hours to get to Matadi as their homes and schools are scattered over such a wide area of town. The meeting opened with every child being required to stand up and say their name, grade and school. We held a question and answer session after the introduction with most of the questions being from concerned parents about how long we would continue to support the scheme. It was so hard to tell them that we didn’t know but that we were working on a plan to ensure that the support continues. They are so grateful for the support but it is hard to see that happiness tinged with the anxiety that their child may not be able to continue their education. The Fund has to ensure that the sponsorship scheme we are about to launch is a success.
The rest of the day was taken up by meetings with former beneficiaries of the sponsorship scheme who are now working and very proud of their achievements. Meetings with the VOS team of volunteers – all young adults with a passion to help others. We met with the VOS Board which comprised of the Government’s Vice President of the Law Reform Association, the Country Manager for UNESCO, a young graduate who works for one of the largest political parties and a young economics graduate – all of whom are passionate about the work of VOS and the example it sets.
Our final meeting of the day was with one of our longest serving local supporters, Madam Amelia Ward together with the new Minister of Education, Madam Tarpeth – together these two make a formidable team who are committed to helping us wherever they can.

It is hard to believe its two years since we were last here. On the one hand it seems like yesterday and on the other so much seems to have changed. On the road in from the airport there are shacks by the roadside selling everything from concrete blocks to phone cards where just a few years ago there were military checkpoints. The traffic heading out of town was a steady stream of cars – a bit like the mass exodus from London on a bank holiday weekend. All around there is evidence of more and more buildings being built… but by whom? Initially it looks like the economy is booming but dig a bit deeper and talk to the locals and you find that the new construction is being funded by large organisations and a lot of Chinese. I am no economist but in my simple view how can this be good for the local economy?
We are the guests of the Salesians in 8th Street again and are grateful for their hospitality. There have been changes here too – not only do we now have mains electricity but one of the outside storerooms has been converted into accommodation and, being the only woman, I have effectively been sent outside! Things got off to a great start this morning with no water and a cold bucket shower with two friendly cockroaches eeeeuuukk. I wish Maureen was here with her secret stash of chocolates and snacks and hip flask!
The day started a 9am with a meeting of all the various Sean Devereux groups – representatives from the SD Children’s Education Programme, Sean Devereux Youth Centre, Volunteers of Sean and Devereux Football Club. We had a summary of what they wanted to share with us in more detailed meetings later in the week and finalised our itinerary – as usual every day is packed. We then headed off for a meeting with Sister Barbara where we talked about the huge benefit that the containers we send with the enormous help of Feed the Children brings to the various groups. They are still desperate for food – pulses, rice, tinned goods for the HIV programme but also need any school materials, clothes, shoes, sheets etc. Please keep the donations coming and if you need more details drop an email to info@seandevereux.org.uk. They love the soap that is kindly donated by Lush but sadly the seeds often fail to germinate so we need to review this.
After lunch we headed out of town to meet up with Dr Keith Thompson, an anaesthetist based in Basingstoke who works on the Mercy Ships and also has a personal interest in several other projects. He has been supporting the Alfred and Agnes orphanage and is looking at ways to further this support. The children sang us a lovely song and sat so patiently and quietly whilst all the adults spoke to them about working hard etc – whilst I did my utmost to try and make them laugh by making silly faces and they were just totally bemused We didn’t stay long – just long enough to teach them how to play tag which was probably not the best idea given the 92o heat.

Heading back to Liberia on Tuesday -can’t believe its been two years since we last visited. Let’s hope things are getting better there…. stay tuned for further updates over the next week. We are planning to work out the logistics of our new Child Sponsorship scheme as well as looking at other ventures to provide education and food such as beekeeping! Its going to be another hectic week but we will come back with lots of feedback and photos.