Transcript Liberia – Then and Now

Welcome to the
Libraries for Liberia Foundation
Providing books and libraries for
the children of Liberia
Liberia – Then and Now
An Overview of the Country
Libraries for Liberia Foundation
2013
The Geography of Africa/Liberia
Liberian climate is
tropical and humid
Avg. Temperature is
about 81 Degrees F.
Constant coastal
breezes temper the
heat on the coast
Avg. rainfall ranges
from 200” on the
coast to 80” inland –
mostly falling
between April – Nov.
Liberia is bordered by
Sierra Leone, Guinea
and Ivory Coast
The country of
Liberia is just a tad
smaller than Ohio
at 43,000 sq miles.
The population is
about 3.5 Million
people.
The capital is
Monrovia.
The country has 15
counties.
History of Liberia
The Republic of Liberia was
founded by the U.S. as a
sovereign state for AfricanAmerican Freed Slaves in
1820 and was a colony until
1847
Independence was
celebrated on July 26, 1847
The capital of Monrovia was
named after American
President James Monroe
who supported the colony
“The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here”
 Official Language is
English
 Over 30 Indigenous
languages are spoken
 Colonists were called
Amercio-Liberians and
ruled the country and
suppressed the 95%
majority of indigenous
peoples
Americo-Liberian Culture
 Encouraged Protestant Christianity
 Garnered an attitude of superiority regarding
European skin color and hair texture
 Created social and material facsimile of
southern America which included architecture
and clothing styles
 Promoted a racist caste system
 Some locals assimilated by marriage
 Some tribes learned English and attended
Protestant Churches, and some didn’t
Beginning of Rebellion
 In 1980, there was a coup which ousted
President Tolbert and put rebel leader,
Master Sergeant, Samuel Doe in power
 He represented Indigenous people and a
party called the People’s Redemption Council
(PRC)
 Tolbert and 26 supporters were murdered
 10 days later 13 cabinet members were
publicly executed
Charles Taylor and the NPFL
 Taylor was a member of Doe’s government
until 1983 when he was accused of
embezzlement and fired.
 He fled to the U.S. and was arrested in 1984
and jailed in Massachusettes.
 He escaped in 1985 and went back to Africa
where he organized the opposition groups
 Formed the National Patriotic Front of Liberia
The First Civil War
 In late 1989, Charles Taylor led a group into Liberia to topple the
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government of Samuel Doe
The group splintered over the next few years into 4 or 5 groups,
representing tribal groups. This was a full blown civil war, the
First Civil War.
In 1995 a ceasefire was brokered. No definite solutions to the
real and perceived issues were defined.
In 1996 fighting broke out again.
New peace accords were signed in 1996 after Taylor’s group
captured Monrovia.
In 1997 Charles Taylor was elected president. The other
warring factions disbanded or moved to the countryside.
A Second Civil War
 In 1999 the Second Civil War started when
new warring factions attempted to overthrow
Charles Taylor’s government.
 In 2003 a cease fire was brokered.
The Civil War is OVER!
 In 2003, peace was finally
declared
 Thanks in large part to an
organized, sustained
protest by the Women of
Liberia
 Their leader was Leymah
Gbowee
 In 2011, she won a Nobel
Peace Prize for her work
Women Protest for Peace
Mighty Be Our Powers
“General” Leymah
tells her powerful
story of surviving
the wars and
leading a revolution
in this gripping
memoir.
New Leadership
 In 2005,
democratic
elections were held
 Ellen JohnsonSirleaf was elected
the first female
President in
African history.
 She also won the
Nobel Peace Prize
Progress is Slow – Help is Needed
 Largely due to destruction of the country’s
infrastructure during the 14 year long war,
much help is needed to rebuild.
 An entire generation of young people lost the
chance to go to school.
 Most schools and libraries were destroyed.
 The people of Liberia are working hard to
rebuild, but help is needed.
Liberian Natives Want to Help
 In an effort to help
provide books and
computers to the children
of Liberia, Local
Westerville resident and
Liberian Native, Zuulu
Cooper has stepped up
and formed The
Libraries for Liberia
Foundation
Friends Stepped Up with Zuulu
Fr. Himi-Budu Shannon, Sr
Clifton Flemister
First Came the Book Drives
 In 2011, Zuulu and friends starting collecting
books locally.
Books Arrive in Monrovia
In April 2012, Zuulu sent the
first 20’ shipping container to
Monrovia.
A School Accepts the Shipment
 He delivered the books to St. Peter’s
Lutheran High School
Shelves Ready to be Filled
Next came the plan for a library
Brent Foley of TRIAD Architects in Westerville
Designed a Library Model for Monrovia
Unveiling and Fundraiser
 On October 23, 2012 the LLF welcomed
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah
Gbowee as the Keynote Speaker for the
Launching of the $1.2 Million Model Library
Fund Drive.
2013 - New Project
 Clifton and Abeoseh (Abby) Flemister have
donated their home in Caldwell, a suburb of
Monrovia, to be a Reading Room – to hold
the book donations while money is raised for
the public library.
 Some renovations
need to be done.
Book Drives Continue
 Groups at The Ohio State University, Ohio
Wesleyan University, and The University of
Toledo have committed to helping the cause
of book collection
 More colleges will be on board in the fall of
2013.
How Can You Get Involved?
 Spread the word to family and friends
 Collect unused books from your home
 Set up a book donation box at your workplace
or school
 Donate valuable dollars through the LLF
website to the Library Building Fund
 Participate in LLF Fund-Raisers
 Sign up for our Mailing List to stay informed
 Like us on Facebook
Stay In Touch with LLF
www.librarariesforliberia.com
We are the Libraries for Liberia Foundation
Contact Us
 5919 Dakar Road West
Suite 100
Westerville, OH 43081
 Email:
info@librariesforliberiaf
oundation.com
 Tel: 1(800)-253-1272
Board Members
Zuulu Cooper – Founder, Executive
Director and President
Amy Birtcher – Secretary
Nadya Richardson - Treasurer
Brent Foley – Architect
Peter Tenny – Consultant – Library
Construction
Clifton Flemister – Advisor
Clara Nyambuya – Advisor
LLF is a 501(c)(3) organization
Donations are tax deductable
Thank you
for your interest and
support !!!
© 2013 Libraries for Liberia Foundation
Amy Birtcher, Secretary
Last updated 9-6-14