WHY LIBERIA?

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Liberia was founded in 1822 by the American Colonization Society, a group in the U. S. who believed that black freedmen and women would face a better chance for freedom and prosperity in Africa. Between 1822 and 1861, over 18,000 former slaves and freeborn blacks from the U.S. and the Caribbean were resettled to the Atlantic south coast of West Africa. In 1847, Liberia declared its independence and became the first independent republic on the African continent. Its constitution and government were modeled closely on that of the U.S. The capital, Monrovia, was named for the American president at the time of initial settlement, James Monroe.

Unlike many African nations, Liberia has a strong Christian influence. Over 80% of Liberians profess Christianity, and churches of many denominations are everywhere, especially in urban areas. Church attendance is high. English is the official language, and most Liberians speak it, at least to some extent, along with local dialects and tribal languages.  Yet Liberia remains one of the poorest countries in the world. A high proportion of children do not attend school, often because their parents need them to help put food on the table. Also, many children, especially in rural areas, have no access to a school.

A major cause of Liberia's current plight is that Liberia experienced two brutal civil wars between 1989 and 2003, from which the country has never recovered. About 90% of the economy was destroyed, and tens of thousands were killed. Thousands more fled the country to refugee camps in neighboring countries, including Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Sierra Leone. Ultimately some were able to be resettled in the U.S. and other western nations. Families were divided and opportunities in Liberia scarce to non-existent. The Liberian people have been heavily reliant on foreign aid, and often even this has not reach its intended beneficiaries.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

We believe the ultimate answer is faith in Christ and application of Christ-like principles for the benefit of all the people. In practical terms, the key to a better future is education of the youth of Liberia, equipping young people with leadership skills to help their people make true progress toward self-sufficiency and security. Close cooperation between mission and relief organizations and the Liberian government is extremely important. But how can children be educated if all their efforts are focused on having enough to eat? Therefore the most immediate need in Liberia is to conquer hunger and food insecurity.

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