A Streetlight: A Sign of Progress in Liberia

Written by: Jessica

Africa has been on my mind and heart lately & I’ve chosen to find out what God is doing and what people there are facing. See other blogs I’ve posted on Africa: Water and Sanitation in Africa and Aids & Children in Africa.

A streetlight, pictured above is a sign of progress in Liberia , a country struggling to recover from a 14-year civil war. See a slide show of pictures from the BBC on current life in Liberia. Electricity has been restored to street lights, allowing safety for those traveling by foot at night and good light for studying. This small country, about the size of Tennessee, is of curious interest to me – maybe because of it’s amazing resolve, or because I just happened to be reading the BBC the morning that it was on the front page. I had no idea of the poverty and devastation in Liberia. The civil war has left behind poverty, (3/4 of the population lives on less than $1.00 a day), hundreds of thousands of refugees, an 85% unemployment rate, a life expectancy of 50 years, and illiteracy (50% of the population is illiterate). This is cause for a cry for help. (UN, CIA World Factbook)

Of particular risk is Liberia’s children. UNICEF reports that Liberia’s children are especially at risk—many are unable to attend schools because buildings are overcrowded. Liberia also lacks basic vaccinations and health care, thus giving it the 5th highest infant-mortality rate in the world (156 deaths per 1000 births), and an estimated 230,000 children are orphaned from HIV/AIDS, disease and armed conflict at present.
Current Liberian president, Ellen-Johnson-Sirleaf, elected in January 2006, brings great resolve and hope to this country. Reducing corruption, providing jobs, restoring basic healthcare (such as vaccinations for children), clean water, electricity, reopening schools, rebuilding many public schools and office buildings from the war are a few of the daunting challenges facing her administration. Her background in banking (Citibank, World Bank) is a great asset for cancelling Liberia’s debt & rebuilding efforts. She is working to educate the world of Libera’s needs and partner with those who can help.

What can we do? Well, perhaps the most helpful thing we can do in the US is to ask Congress to approve legislation that will increase debt cancellation of impoverished countries to meet Millennium Development Goals. Liberia has over $3.7 billion in external debt – which at current rates will take over 1,000 years to repay. Helping to cancel debts will allow the country to get back on its feet. JUBILEE USA has an online letter that you can complete and it will be forwarded to your representatives. Secondly, finding organizations at work in Libera is another way to be informed and contribute to the efforts in Liberia. I found it difficult to find any organizations at work in Libera, due to the danger of working in the country until this past year. World Vision and JUBILEE USA both are actively involved in Libera today. Besides giving, or finding other organizations that give aid to Liberia, please pray for the church in Liberia—for President Johnson-Sirleaf, for aid to increase from government and non-government agencies, for safety for aid workers in this country and for God’s help.