Liberia News
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0
Small Steps for Hope
Many steps have been taken to
develop and extend the services
of the Hope for the Deaf school
in Monrovia, Liberia since I spent
time working with the staff and
students there in 2008. Since the
summer of 2008, the students
and staff at Hope have seen an
increase in the size of their
school, activities, and support.
Outlined below are just a few of
the major accomplishments in
the past two years.
• A charitable donation from
a Methodist church in Mary-
land allowed for a workshop
to be built adjacent to the
school.
• A Shoe Manufacturing pro-
gram was established at the
school to provide training
for older students.
Quest for Hope 5K Run/Walk
This past fall, more than 100
people came together to sweat,
run, walk and raise support for
students in Liberia. The Quest
United Methodist Church in
Champaign/Urbana teamed to-
gether with local sponsors and
runners from around Central
Illinois to host their 2nd Annual
• ChildArt Liberia pro- minimal fees, as well as pro-
gram was started at the vide opportunities for teach-
school, giving instruction in ers to attend training work-
arts and crafts techniques to shops.
develop skills as well as
allow an outlet for the stu-
David Worlobah, the school’s
dents feelings about war and
principal, as well as the rest of
peace.
the staff are dedicated to provid-
ing education for a population of
students that are often over-
looked. It is through their dedica-
tion and the support of their
brothers and sisters around the
world that will sustain the Deaf
School.
Students learning how to make
and repair shoes.
• Funds from the Quest for
Hope run (see below)
helped students attend with
Marathon. A total of $3,200 was
raised to fulfill school sponsor-
ships in Liberia. The funds were
split between general education
scholarships and Hope for the
Deaf school, all through the An-
nual Liberian Conference of the
United Methodist Church.
If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war,
we shall have to begin with the children.
~Gandhi

A Culture of Peace program is to be established be-

tween the Human Rights Monitor, the Hope for the
Deaf School, and the Liberian community starting in
summer 2010. Stay tuned for information and ways
that you can help support peace in Liberia.

www.hopeforthedeaf.blogspot.com

Human Rights Monitor Honored

The Human Rights Monitor (HRM) of they are determined to bring a brighter future to
the Liberian Annual Conference is an organi- their country.
zation dedicated to eradicating human rights To find out more, please visit their new blog
violations and promoting peace. It was cre-
at
ated in 1995 in the midst of the Liberian Civil
www.umchumanrightsmonitor.blogspot.com/
War, giving a voice to the voiceless and hope
to the hopeless. It continues to strive to
bring attention to the needs of it’s commu-
nity, citizens, and home nation.
The Human Rights Monitor was re-
cently awarded two high distinctions this
year. They have been honored as the Human
Rights Organization of the Year 2009, as well
as the Civil Society Organization of the Year
2009. They have been commended on their
work in bringing wells to rural communities,
providing workshops focusing on social jus-
tice and human rights, as well as working
with refugees and prisoners.
While Aaron and I were in Liberia in
2008, Aaron was able to work closely with
the Human Rights Monitor. We were able to
witness first hand the dedication and passion
driving the workers of the HRM. While they
themselves have witnessed and experienced
atrocious acts of violence during the war,